It’s estimated that up to 40% of the 2.7 million people living with AFib in the United States show no symptoms.

For those patients, smartwatches and fitness trackers may be able to detect issues that might be missed otherwise. When configured properly, these devices can measure heart rate and notify the wearer if their heart rate stays above or below a certain threshold. Smartwatches and fitness trackers can also detect irregular heart rates if the heart rate notifications are enabled.

“The idea that we can see a patient who discovers themselves having a fast heart rate, irregular heartbeat, or palpitations from a watch is fascinating,” say Tryon clinicians. “If they come in to see their clinician sooner and are diagnosed much faster, that’s a huge win.”

What to do if your smartwatch detects an irregular heart rate.

Anytime you think you may be having a heart attack, or are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness or lightheadedness, or pain or discomfort in your jaw or arms, seek emergency medical attention immediately. If you currently have a diagnosed heart issue that is being treated by a cardiologist, follow up with that clinician.

But if you have no history of heart problems and your smartwatch or fitness tracker notifies you of an issue, do you need a referral to a member of Tryon’s cardiology team? 

Start with your primary care clinician as soon as possible. 

“A heart palpitation or a single episode of an irregular heartbeat can be an isolated event, so we want to have our legwork done before referring to a cardiologist,” clinicians say, since palpitations or irregular heartbeats may be the result of other health conditions.

For a patient with these symptoms, your primary care clinician will start with a thorough history and physical exam. Depending on the information provided, they may proceed with getting a more exact reading of the heartbeat over an extended period of time. The patient would wear a monitoring device that is placed on the upper left part of the chest, anywhere from seven to 14 days. The monitor is then shipped to a cardiologist who reads the device and reports the results back to your Tryon Medical Partners care team. 

One Tryon clinician reported that roughly one-third of patients who came to see her as a result of a smartwatch or fitness tracker notification needed a referral to a cardiologist after their heart monitor results.

People with AFib are usually prescribed blood thinners, beta blockers, or other interventions to prevent potentially fatal heart attacks and strokes. For those whose heart rate may be irregular or elevated for another reason, this process saves the patient unnecessary worry and sometimes hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Clinicians join Tryon Medical Partners because they believe in the power of the patient-clinician relationship. By spending time getting to know their patients at each visit, clinicians can often find ways to help patients resolve or manage their overall health without unnecessary referrals, which can lead to increased costs and longer wait times for specialists. 

Looking for reliable healthcare that you can set your smartwatch by? Become a Tryon Medical Partners patient, or if you already are, schedule an appointment with your care team today.