I’ve been wearing smartwatches for over a decade. The primary reason has been the ability to receive and reply to notifications straight from my wrist. While I certainly kept tabs on the steps I walked, the health aspect of wearing smartwatches never appealed to me – at least, not until an Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch saved my life.
High Heart Rate Notifications
It’s no secret that the Apple Watch has a heart rate monitor. However, did you know the device can notify you every time your heart rate goes above or below a certain threshold? This is an extremely important feature, as you may not otherwise notice these fluctuations in your heart rate.
One day when I was standing in line, my Apple Watch notified me that my heart rate was higher than usual. Little did I know how vital this notification was going to be, so I ignored it the way you may be ignoring the ads on this page.
For good measure, though, I quickly checked my ECG on the Apple Watch, which resulted in a sinus rhythm. It’s incredible how you can take an ECG on a smartwatch in a matter of a few seconds, no matter where you are. Since there were no signs of irregular heart rhythms or atrial fibrillation (AFib), I presumed it was a false alarm and moved on.
Blood Pressure Monitoring
A few weeks later, I picked up a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, as I had moved from an iPhone to an Android device. The Galaxy Watch 4 was among the best smartwatches at that time, with nearly every health feature you could think of.
While the Apple Watch provided ECG functionality, Samsung took it up a notch with its Galaxy Watch series, with a blood pressure-monitoring feature. This is extremely handy for older people or for those who are hypertensive. I encountered the feature while setting up the watch and decided to test it.
Smartwatches vs. medical-grade instruments
I wasn’t hypertensive, but I thought I could write an article comparing the Galaxy Watch’s blood pressure monitor and a dedicated sphygmomanometer, as my dad is hypertensive, and we have one of those at home.
I took the first reading via the Galaxy Watch, and it was higher than the normal blood pressure range, so I thought the watch wasn’t accurate and decided to use the blood pressure monitor. To my surprise, even the monitor reported the same value as the watch. This was unexpected and worried me a bit. However, I checked again later to see if it was a fleeting measurement.
When I checked my blood pressure again after a few hours, it was still on the higher side. I figured it was time to pay a visit to the doctor to see what was wrong. The doctor also measured my blood pressure using medical-grade apparatus, and the results were similar to the Galaxy Watch.
This is where I want to take a moment to appreciate the accuracy of the blood pressure monitor on the Samsung Galaxy Watch. I was certainly terrified to learn about my high blood pressure, but at the same time, impressed with how Samsung has managed to fit all this tech in a tiny computer that goes on the wrist.
ECG on the Wrist
After a series of high readings, I was advised to undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). I compared the results of the ECG via the medical-grade equipment to that taken on my Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch. Both of them were quite similar and gave me the reassurance that when it’s not an emergency, I can rely on modern-day gadgets like smartwatches to save my life.
Having the ability to take an ECG on my wrist was super handy, as I could take one every few hours from the comfort of my home. Moreover, the BP monitoring feature also meant I didn’t have to constantly use the dedicated machine. In short, having two capable smartwatches made my life a lot simpler – and saved it.
Prevention Is Better Than a Cure
While some may argue that these health features on wearables aren’t reliable and cannot be taken at face value, the more important point here is how these features gave me cues of something being wrong. If the smartwatches hadn’t notified me of these anomalies, I wouldn’t have realized my heart rate was higher than usual. If I didn’t set up the BP monitoring feature, I wouldn’t know my blood pressure was high.
What mattered to me was the initial alarm and push to visit a doctor for a diagnosis. If I had delayed seeking medical help, my condition could have worsened and resulted in a stroke.
Above all, it was good to learn that I should get my family’s vitals checked regularly to avoid any sudden health issues. Owing to this experience, a good smartwatch has become an integral part of my life. While my blood pressure has thankfully dropped back to normal, I keep checking it, along with taking an ECG from time to time, just to be on the safe side.
Get Your Loved Ones a Smartwatch
Smartwatches are no longer simple tools to check how much you’ve walked or how many calories you’ve burned. They are powerful gadgets that can save your life or a friend or family member’s.
Most premium smartwatches now have fall detection. It’s a feature that alerts emergency services and close contacts that you have fallen. There’s also crash detection, which does the same in case of a car accident.
Apple’s latest watchOS feature includes sleep apnea detection, which can, yet again, be life-saving. The new Vitals app can also preempt a sickness, depending on your body’s resting patterns.
Combine this with features like BP monitoring, ECG, heart rate notifications, and several other features, and a smartwatch makes for an excellent gift for the people you care about. It’s a potential lifesaver.
Disclaimer: smartwatches are not as accurate and reliable as medical-grade equipment, but they still saved my life. It’s not advisable to rely solely on the readings of a smartwatch in case of an emergency. If you’re experiencing certain symptoms, it’s best to consult a doctor for immediate aid.
All images and screenshots by Sumukh Rao.
