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How Accurate Is The Apple Watch Heart Rate

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Ivresults And Clinical Outcome Analysis

Apple Watch 6 Accuracy (Sleep, Heart rate, Steps)

Across the five watches and iPhone 8s purchased, 266 heart rate values were recorded. Twenty-four data points were not obtained. Missing data can be attributed to the following reasons. For one subject, none of the five AWs was able to read an ECG rhythm at all six time points; the same watches were fine for the other subjects. In two other subjects, there was missing data due to the inability to obtain both AW and telemetry readings at certain time points due to early patient discharge. Lastly, one subject withdrew consent from study participation.

Heart rate ranges for the AW and telemetry ranged from 57 125 bpm and 54 137 respectively. Lins concordance correlation coefficients were calculated to provide a measure of agreement for the AW with telemetry. The concordance correlation coefficient measures the degree to which the paired observations fall on the identity line. Overall there was an agreement of rc = 0.7 between the AW and telemetry , .

Apple Watch Heart Monitor Accuracy

First off, lets take a look at the accuracy of the heart rate monitor and put the analysis of that data aside for the moment.

Among commercial fitness trackers, the Apple Watch has long had the most accurate heart rate monitor. That was first suggested in a study from 2016, which found that the Apple wearable beat out popular models from Fitbit and Garmin.

That trend has definitely continued. In 2019, a cross-section of studies focusing on the Apple Watch heart rate monitor found that the device could measure heart rate with clinically acceptable accuracy during exercise.

The Apple Watchs heart rate prowess has been shown off in other studies, too. In November, the results of a Stanford study suggested that the Apple Watch could accurately detect atrial fibrillation.

Where Can I Locate Resting Heart Rate On My Apple Device

From the Health app, tap on Browse and then choose Heart. You will find your Resting Heart rate details on the third row of the screen.

According to Mayo Cliniadults, normal resting heart rates;range from 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Generally, a lower heart rate at rest implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness.

For example, a well-trained athlete might have a normal resting heart rate closer to 40 beats per minute.

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Alternative Ways To Use Heart Rate Effectively

While tracking your heart rate is flawed outside a lab, that doesnt mean its completely worthless to your training. In fact, heart rate training can be an incredibly effective tool to personalize your training and improve your performances, so long as you understand it, customize it for your own body in practice, and not let it rule every run. Heres how.

Training

If you do want to track heart-rate information to guide your training, your best bet is to use a chest strap for the most accurate data. Then, take that data with a grain of salt and understand its limitations, suggests Kaitlin Goodman, a four-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier and running coach based in Boston who uses heart-rate tracking for her own training.

We, as runners, are data-driven and love to have data to inform our training decisions, she says. Its key to understand that it will be useful to a point, but you should still be doing a body scan and assessing how youre feeling. If your watch says that your heart rate is 180, and you feel like youre really running very comfortably, trust your body.

“Your lactate threshold heart rate is a better baseline than your max heart rate.”

This advice aligns with a unique method that David Roche, a running coach in Boulder, Colorado, two-time USATF trail 10K national champion, and coauthor of The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer, and his wife Megan, a five-time USATF trail national champion in events ranging from 10K to 50K, use.

Whats The Best Way To Track Your Heart Rate

The Heart Rate Monitor on the Apple Watch Looks Crazy Accurate

The Wall Street Journal compared wrist-based heart rate monitors to consumer chest monitors. They then compared both types of monitors to a doctors EKG. The results were that the wrist monitors wildly varied when compared with a professional EKG. The chest monitor, though, matched the EKG results.

For consumers who are fitness enthusiasts, those chest monitors are the way to go! Companies like Garmin, Polar, and Wahoo all make chest monitors.

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How Does A Health App Measure Heart Rate

The Health app can measure your heart rate and all you need to do is place your fingertip on your phones camera lens and the app will detect the colour change on your fingertip each time your heart beats . Then, it uses the information collected to calculate your heart rate but if you are using the Apple Watch it may measure your heart rate automatically.

Why Is This Blog About How Does Apple Health Calculate Resting Heart Rate Important

Knowing how does apple health calculate heart rate might seem important to many users because they would like to keep monitoring their heart rate for health purposes. However, remember that the readings may not be accurate and there are several factors that could have influenced it. If you have concerns, always consult with a physician or health professional about it.;

Moreover, avoid googling a certain reading because it might alarm you more than it really should. Remember that the reading may vary from one person to another and it doesnt mean there is something wrong with them.;

Please feel free to leave any comments or thoughts about the content of this article!

Side Note: I have tried and tested various products and services to help with my anxiety and depression. See my top recommendations here, as well as a full list of all products and services our team has tested for various mental health conditions and general wellness.

Read Also: How Low Should Your Heart Rate Be

What Are Active Calories On Apple Watch

Calories are burned in two ways: through your body maintaining itself at rest and through additional calories used during exercise. These additional calories used during exercise are what Apple calls Active Calories.;

But what are active calories vs total calories? Total Calories is equal to Active Calories plus BMR, or the sum total of calories burnt at rest and calories burnt during exercise. You’ll know you’ve reached your personal goal of Active Calories burned by looking at your Apple Watch activity rings: When your red Move ring is closed, you’ve hit your Apple Watch Move goal.

Pro Tip: To answer the question, how many calories does my body naturally burn you need to consider various factors. However, according to the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines, the average calories burned in a day by an adult is 1800 calories a day, even if they do nothing.

How Accurate Is Apple Watch Heart Rate

How Accurate is Apple Watch Heart Rate Reading (Heart BPM)

If you want to start monitoring your heart rate during exercise, you might decide to purchase an Apple Watch.

This device will keep you updated on your heart rate so you can make the most of your workouts.

How is heart rate connected to exercise? By knowing your heart rate during exercise, you can better plan your workouts. If youre using the right intensity for your body, youll prevent fatigue while working towards your fitness goals.;

But, is the Apple Watchs heart rate monitor accurate? Lets find out.;

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How Does Apple Watch Calculate Calories

Apple Watch tracks your heart rate and movement and uses your personal health information such as height and weight to track your daily calorie expenditure. Apple Watch calorie calculations are based on health standards and are known to be accurate.;

The calorie tracker is based on a scientific principle called the metabolic rate. Metabolic rate is the rate of a persons metabolism, or how quickly the body expends the calories ingested through food intake.

Each individual has a unique metabolic rate, but scientists can accurately predict an individuals metabolic rate based on their gender, weight, and height.

When you set up your Apple Watch, you give Apple this info in the Health app. It then uses this personal information to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate , which is your metabolic rate under normal resting conditions, and your Active Metabolic Rate , which is your metabolic rate while you are exercising. Apple Watch uses your heart rate and movement to detect increases or decreases in activity, which measures AMR.;

The Apple Health app determines how much the average person of your size, age, and gender needs to exercise in order to run a calorie deficit. Meaning how much you need to move and be active to burn more than the number of calories you consume in a day.

What About Scanning Your Heart For Abnormalities

The Apple Watch Series 4, 5, and 6 have electrodes in their design that are located at the back of the watch and in the watchs Digital Crown.

These are used to measure the electrical signals in your heart when you use the ECG app or Heart Rate app. How the process works is that when you put your finger on the Digital Crown, it produces a closed circuit between both your arms and your heart, which enables the watch to capture electrical impulses in your chest.

But, does this really work to alert you to heart problems, such as atrial fibrillation? A study has shown that the Apple Watch has a good amount of sensitivity when detecting abnormal arrhythmia, but it was found to be more accurate when used by older people. However, the accuracy when it comes to detecting atrial fibrillation is approximately 40 percent.;

There are also some risks associated with using a watch that will monitor your heart rate for any abnormalities. Some medical professionals have warned consumers about overdiagnosis with the ECG functionality in Apple Watches.

This is because most people who wear smartwatches are usually young and healthy, while atrial fibrillation is more common in older members of the population. Therefore, if youre young, fit, and healthy, you might end up experiencing regular false alarms that could result in excessive worry or overtreatment for no good reason. Although it can be accurate, the Apple Watch isnt meant to replace a medical device.

Read Also: What’s Resting Heart Rate

Contact Your Doctor If Youre Worried

HRV is an increasingly popular health measurement, but its still quite esoteric, and theres lots of research yet to be done on it. Weve been very wary about linking out to any sources making bold claims about the benefits of religiously monitoring it.

For now, your Apple Watch tracks it but does little else with it. That may change in the future. Still, you can keep an eye on your HRV and see how it varies over time with different activity and sleep levels as you continue about your daily life.

Of course, if youre at all concerned about what youre seeing, contact your doctor immediately.

How Do I See The Hrv Increase Or Decrease Between Two Specific Dates On Iphone

Apple Watch: The Most Accurate Wearable for Heart Rate ...

From the HRV graph on your Health App, if you want to see the HRV between specific days of the week or between specific dates in a month and how much it increased or decreased between the date ranges, you will need to use two fingers and tap on the graph.

When you tap on any graph on Apple iPhone using two fingers, it typically shows your displayed charts average.

In this instance, since we are trying to find out the average HRV and the increase/decrease between the two dates, place your fingers on both the dates and tap them together.

Now it will display your Average HRV and the increase or decrease between the two selected dates or time intervals.

Also Check: How To Slow Your Heart Rate When Nervous

How To Increase The Accuracy Of Readings

Heart rate can also be tracked using the Digital Crown on the side of the Apple Watch. When you place the finger of your opposite hand on the crown, it creates a closed circuit between your hands that goes through your heart. Because of this closed circuit, the heart rate measurement is much more accurate, and you will also get a much faster reading than what you experience with other methods.

The Apple Watchs accuracy level can be different from person to person. For some, its impossible to get a heart rate reading at all. However, there are things that can be done to help get a more accurate heart rate reading more consistently. Making sure;the Apple Watch fits well is one of the;best ways to ensure an accurate reading. The watch should be not too tight or too loose, and it needs to remain on the top of;the wrist at all times. Wrist detection also needs to be turned on in order to have heart rate detection whatsoever. Anytime Power Saving mode is turned on, the heart rate sensor will also stop tracking;the heart rate. Tattoos, skin perfusion, and the type of movement;may also affect the accuracy of the Apple Watch readings.

What Is The Most Accurate Way To Find Your Resting Heart Rate

It is believed that the most accurate way to measure your resting state is using a wireless monitor strapped around your chest. It reads out to a fitness tracker worn on your wrist but a smartwatch may also do the trick. Digital fitness trackers worn on the wrist such as at-home blood pressure machines or smartphone apps are believed to be less accurate than checking your heart rate manually.

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How Does A Smartwatch Heart Rate Monitor Work

The optical heart sensor on the backside of your smartwatches works on the principle of photoplethysmography.

Very simply put, blood is red because it reflects red light and absorbs green light. Your smartwatch uses green LED lights to detect the amount of blood flowing through your wrist at any given time.;

When your heart beats, the blood flow in your wrist, and hence the green light absorption is greater.

The photodiodes next to the LED lights on your watch help with measuring how much of the green light is absorbed.

Optical heart sensors also use infrared light. Apple Watch uses infrared light to measure your heart rate in the background and uses the green LED lights to measure heart rate during workouts and to calculate Heart rate variability.

The four important variables that can influence the heart rate measurement are the brightness of the LED light/s, the sampling rate, resting or activity state, and the skin tone.

How Does Apple Watch Measure My Heart Rate

Apple Watch Series 4 Heart Rate Accuracy VS Pulse Oximeter

Just as we have discussed, the optical sensor uses what is known as photoplethysmography. As indicated on support.apple.com, This technology, while difficult to pronounce, is based on a very simple fact: Blood is red because it reflects red light and absorbs green light. Apple Watch uses green LED lights paired with lightsensitive photodiodes to detect the amount of blood flowing through your wrist at any given moment.

When your heart beats, the blood flow that goes through your wrist is greater but between beats, its less. The optical heart sensor is designed to compensate for low signal levels by increasing both LED brightness and sampling rate.;

Moreover, Apple indicates, The optical heart sensor can also use infrared light. This mode is what Apple Watch uses when it measures your heart rate in the background, and for heart rate notifications. Apple Watch uses green LED lights to measure your heart rate during workouts and Breathe sessions, and to calculate walking average and Heart Rate Variability .

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My Wish List For Apple Watch Heart Rate Functions

Id love to ditch third-party apps while working out completely. Id love it all to be Apple Watch. To do this, Apple needs to give more haptic feedback for heart rates while working out. I should know my heart rate without looking at the watch. Fitness apps like Wahoo or Rock My Run notify me when my heart rate falls above or below the optimal zone.

When I pair the Apple Watch to my chest monitor, that information should be shared with other apps. For example, when I use Rock My Run and pair it with the chest monitor, Rock my Run cant modify my music as the heart rate increases. If iOS 9 or above and Apple Music can tell which mood Im in and suggest music based on moods, why couldnt they do heart rates? If my heart rate is high, give me high BPM music. The killer feature for heart rate monitoring would be to watch my heart rate compared to the music. Apple Music could then suggest which music motivates me the most and find me more songs like that.

I truly heart my Apple Watch, and Im okay with the monitoring just the way it is. I can track my progress over the day, but I can also specialize with my Bluetooth chest monitor while working out.

A Number Of Subjects And Recruitment

Fifty post-operative cardiac surgery patients admitted to the cardiac telemetry step-down floors at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus from January 2019 to March 2019 were recruited by trained research personnel within five days post-surgery. All patients gave written informed consent to participate in the study. The protocol was approved by the Cleveland Clinic institutional review board and registered at clinicaltrials.gov . The study lasted from December 21st, 2018 till March 29th, 2019. The mean age of the patients was 61.4 ± 10.4years; the mean ± st. dev body mass index was 30.4 ± 4.87; 14 participants were women , and 3 participants were African American . All patients were on continuous six-lead telemetry according to standard clinical practice on the step-down floor. 50% of subjects experiencing atrial fibrillation and 50% experiencing sinus rhythm at the time of enrollment were studied.

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