Why doctors are worried about the Apple Watch EKG

[@VergeScience]

Hey all, a clarification: Dr. Landefeld, and the studies he mentioned, didn't evaluate the Apple Watch EKG feature specifically - his concerns are about EKGs in general. Those concerns are worth considering, regardless of the brand of EKG device. But, only time will tell whether the Apple Watch specifically will have the effects that Dr. Landefeld and Dr. Marcus are wondering about.

[@jimday6244]

I AM over 65, 67 in fact. I see a cardiologist yearly. In a discussion with my cardiologist about the watch, she revealed that: 1) they were thrilled about the technology; and, 2) If I notice any problems in BOTH ECG AND heart rate monitoring, to make a quick appointment (you were so anxious to bash the ECG feature, you forgot the plethora of other features in the watch). I got the iWatch 4 not only its integration with my iPhone 6S plus and my MacBook Pro but also for ALL the health features, to include the "Fall/911 notification" feature (which I will add, can be set off with vigorous applause). You failed to discuss the issue of people being more serious about their own healthcare, to include its costs. Not that I am going to sit at home and run all my own tests. But the costs, the costs. Now get off my lawn.

[@jimday6244]

Oh, it's an Electro Cardiogram, not an Electro Kardiogram...ECG

[@samich7371]

Lmfao

[@rudolphbeschererjr]

First, we still use the Nobel prize-winning technology developed by Willem Einthoven with regards to the naming of the limb leads and the electrical impulses, and out of respect for him many of us (including persons like myself who have been medical school faculty and taught EKG interpretation to nursing, paramedic, and medical students) refer to this as EKG. Honoring the memory of those who came before us and gave us the technology we now use is very important in medicine, so I will continue to order EKGs on patients. Second, the cardiologist in the video does not appear to understand how our healthcare system works. People are not going to make an appointment with him, they will walk right in (or possibly come in by ambulance) and see me in the emergency department, unless for some reason they have a pre-existing relationship with a cardiologist as you do, in which case they may very well benefit from that technology with some minor incremental advances in telemedicine that would allow appropriate triage either to my department or the cardiology office. The rest of the patients who are now in the ED and likely in a state of panic will then get a history and physical examination, a diagnostic-quality 12-lead (or 15-lead) EKG, and possibly additional testing as indicated. However, the most important issue is having loads of people with access to medical data which they most likely do not already possess the knowledge required to make a valid interpretation, compounded by the extremely poor quality of the single lead rhythm shown on the watch. I agree with the cardiologist in the video that the false positive rate is going to be extremely high and cause lots of unnecessary worrying. Drink a bunch of coffee and briskly walk to another building at work, you might be throwing enough premature supraventricular ectopy on top of your underlying sinus tachycardia to trip the alarm. However, I would be glad to cardiovert someone out of clearly documented new-onset atrial fibrillation under sedation and send them back home with outpatient cardiology follow-up instead of the alternative if the rhythm was not caught early.

[@jimday6244]

@@rudolphbeschererjr First, "we still use the Nobel prize-winning" [sic]. So you are speaking for the entire medical field and you have applicable statistics to show that all doctors, paramedics, and nurses use the term EKG and that use is based on honoring Willem Einthoven rather than what they were taught? Great stats there doc and reasoning. Second, you, much like the narrator, fail to mention the heart monitoring capability of the software/hardware that records waking, resting, and exercising heart rate and the speed at which the wearer recovers from elevated rates. The watch also monitors and will alarm for high and low pulse rates. Do not let yourself get so hung up on the ECG feature (EKG for you and all the doctors, nurses, and paramedics). Third, get off your high horse and give some props to the folks out there who take enough interest to wear a monitor of their overall health. We are doing our best in an area where services are over-priced, costs are hidden, and insurance companies and hospitals fail to list prices for service. Also, the assumption that there will be masses showing up at their cardiologist, PCM, or "Doc-in-the-Box" is not supported by statistics. However, I would assume, IMHO (see what I did there) that anyone who is healthy enough to drink 16 ozs. of coffee and run up two flights of stair would have the requisite cardiovascular health to arrive at the third-floor intact.

[@atanasbogoev]

As a Medical Doctor myself, I completely disagree with Prof. Landefeld. His comments are purely theoretical and don't hold up in the clinical setting. No patient undergoes heart surgery just from 1 screening ECG - we do a full set of heart evaluation and tests that all confirm the diagnosis. In addition the ECG is done multiple times before surgery for this sole purpoce. I believe that with this device we are gathering data in a way and in a scale that we couldn't have imagined before. This is why we shouldn't just say it is BAD or it is unnecessary. It could be a key to unlocking the next generation of cardiology care. Or maybe that's just me :)

[@Piesy001]

As someone who knows a doctor, isn't any information that gets somebody to a doctor better for the health of the patient (and your back pocket)? Where I am from, blokes just don't go to the doctors, pushing them for a checkup must be a positive.

[@zKiid]

As someone who’s friends’ sister is a doctor, I can conclude that it’s both good and bad.

[@saumitrachakravarty]

As a medical doctor myself, I disagree with you because this although does not warrant invasive procedure, mass-available cardiac screenings like this would eventually create unnecessary load on healthcare system that is not good from a triage perspective of healthcare where the needy are neglected indirectly by false-positive healthy ones.

[@atanasbogoev]

All of you are right and I completely agree with you! There is just one thing that all of your argunets underestimate - technology evolves. While this all this medical data from the v1.0 apple watch ECG may be useless now and may even be a burden to the healthcare in general, it could be a stepping stone to the next key technology, innovation and breaktrough. Imagine what v5.0 of the same product could do... In addition it will force the competition to spend capital on RnD, further improving the product. #BelieveInInnovation

[@saumitrachakravarty]

@@atanasbogoev Do we really need more medical data? The problem of medical research now is the overburden of data and not the lack of it, speaking in general off course. We do need innovation but not in the sector of medical data accumulation, but in data analytics.

[@4loops43]

Ok, this feature saved my life. I woke up having severe heartburn, I was positive it wasn’t a heart attack as I didn’t have the normal symptoms we are told about. I did a quick ekg from my Apple Watch and it was obvious something was wrong so I immediately went to the hospital. I showed it to a nurse and was immediately rushed into emergency. That’s it! The watch did it’s job perfectly. Obviously the hospital did EKG on me but drawing blood and doing a test is the only true way to tell if you are having a heart attack. I was, I had surgery and had 3 stents put in, and lived happily ever after! Oh by the way mine was called a “widow maker” most people don’t get help in time...I did, thanks Apple!

[@DB-xo6xh]

really? wow. How long did it take you to get to the hospital and get care?

[@shamsanodakkal1809]

They don't make treatments based on apple watch diagnosis, do they? The doctor is sure to order more tests. I don't see the problem here.

[@RBuckminsterFuller]

You're completely missing the point. It's a waste of resources to go to a doctor when you're perfectly healthy. You're taking up their valuable time when they could've been helping someone who's actually sick. Tests when you're not sick are a waste of resources.

[@Handlegamer12360]

Have you ever met a paranoid person? The doctors are worried about them.... A slight irregularity will cause panic which will lead to being worried all the time that will ultimately lead to depression (or something like that). Too much data is also a bad thing sometimes....

[@bundubashing2591]

@@RBuckminsterFuller wasting their valuable time when I PAY them? You guys are crazy. I'm never taking any chances with my life. Better safe than sorry

[@sasukeuchiha998]

@@bundubashing2591 To doctors it is. It is the same thing as idiots using the ER for a paper cut. Sure, no prob, you are paying for it. But is it a good idea that 70 people are using the ER for paper cuts and hangovers when the 10 that do need a doctor are just waiting for hours. And yes, people do lie about their problems being worse than it is just to go to the ER.

[@bundubashing2591]

@@sasukeuchiha998 I don't think it's fair to conflate people going to the doc because of a device that is FDA approved and has been subjected to scientific studies to determine its accuracy to idiots going because of paper cuts.

[@Juelehuele]

In my case I had a TRUE POSITIVE atrial fibrillation detected by the Apple Watch. I went to emergency services and the diagnosis was exactly the same of the Apple Watch. It works! I am 52 years old and never had heart problems

[@importantopinion]

They say you dont need home ECG because more people will be going in hospital and demand help

[@aluisious]

You don't have to go to the emergency room for Afib. It doesn't kill people. I've had it for a decade. It's a risk factor for other things, so you talk to your doctor and a cardio specialist to figure out if you need to make lifestyle changes or have medical intervention.

[@johnanthonyeletto9482]

I took an ECG right after this video and it said that I had AFib. Tightened my watch and took 3 more and they all came back Sinus Rhythm. I’m on my way to get bypass surgery now.

[@timelapse7454]

😆😆

[@withcheesepls]

Good luck on your surgery.

[@GrothendiecksWish]

Enjoy your $200k surgery

[@itsnotyasir]

You obviously are rich so... good luck on your surgery

[@xRailPvP]

As you said you probably did it very loose and that’s the problem lol

[@Abhi-cb7eh]

*An apple a day keeps the doctor away*

[@subscribeordiefukyou]

yes

[@GMoney-B]

Gold Jerry! Gold!

[@Kobanermani]

EPIC JOKE

[@a.g.4843]

A doctor a day keeps the apple away (due to lack of money)

[@elenasullivan4522]

This has been apple’s end goal the whole time lmao

[@sanbetski]

I did not know that jeff bezos is also a doctor

[@evilotto9200]

A young Jeff Bezos. He's got his swole on in the last two years.

[@tobylii]

Jeff who?

[@AchiragChiragg]

@@tobylii Amazon CEO

[@mohamedazeezulla7854]

@@AchiragChiragg you obviously don't get the reference

[@greyhead3626]

Achirag Chirag watch the Elon musk video

[@Dowdyguy]

The watch EKG may have 'saved my life' according to my cardiologist. Docs all shrugged off my statements about feeling overwhelming sleepiness and occasional pounding pulse. Tests never showed them. Then, when I used the watch for one of these, it became an alarm to a cardiologist,who checked further and realized have these sporadic AFIBs. Now I'm on some meds.

[@HiFiInsider]

false positive is not a real concern if your doctor is doing the correct follow-up diagnostic. Doctors themselves make a LOT of mistakes so before you have any invasive treatment, you SHOULD get a second or third opinion from a SPECIALIST first.

[@RBuckminsterFuller]

You're completely missing the point. It's a waste of resources to go to a doctor when you're perfectly healthy. You're taking up their valuable time when they could've been helping someone who's actually sick. And you want to waste the time of a second and even third doctor as well?

[@nathanfay1988]

It is a concern. A false positive would be terrifying for most people. Yes it gets them to see their doctor but even if their doctor says it's ok people can still be unnerved by the Apple Watch false positive reading. Rationality doesn't work for irrational fears

[@moonbender95]

You lost me on "doctors themselves make a lot of mistakes" and then recommending for a SPECIALIST. You're being contradictory

[@DanielLopez-up6os]

Yeah but in the US it´ll cost you a whole lot more.

[@hermest99]

So a professor who has studied this subject his entire life says that this is a concern, yet you think you know more than he does? You clearly know nothing of the impact of false positives on patient health in the long term.

[@KitNKitty]

The new EKG feature has already saved several lives. It's worth the miniscule risk of a false-positive, clearly.

[@zebulunsaroya7364]

Bro it's not as miniscule as you might think

[@tlf361]

*anyone else pee on the side of the toilet to make less noise?*

[@JakeMasca]

Timothy L all the time

[@yellfire]

I always kneel when peeing on the side of the toilet

[@SameerKhan-nd5qb]

Hahaha

[@whassupmahesh]

I pee outside the window

[@cornholio777]

My D is too long and it touches the side of the toilet. Anyone had that problem

[@nickyang1143]

False negatives would be more of a concern. "That chest pain is fine, my watch tells me so" (and yes I'm a doctor)

[@yudhiteguh1286]

Underrated

[@mli3793]

Why do you so hardly try to paint the apple watch EKG as a negative? "People without risk of heart desease should not use the apple watch because the results could be flawed and they will open your chest up, operate on your heart and risk killing you with no reason." So... Dont you think its more plausible that they will do a EKG at the hospital before they open the whole chest up?

[@petterv6604]

Simon this video is so wrong

[@arthurg.machado6803]

This got me mad to. No doctor will ever perform a surgery because some person Apple watch said so. The only use for the watch test is to make people aware of a possible problem and make them go to a doctor and check if the problem is really there.

[@evilotto9200]

It's a poorly focused video. Healthy person with a smart watch demanding attention in a crowded emergency room seems a more practical concern. Still less harmful than WebMD.

[@Crispman_777]

It's about patient overload. There's no point going to a doctor for a follow up test if you're in a low risk group and don't have any symptoms. It wastes their time and money that could be used to treat someone who's actually sick. It also wastes your time (and money for those without an NHS or medical plan) if you're in said group.

[@Handlegamer12360]

Have you ever met a paranoid person? The doctors are worried about them.... A slight irregularity will cause panic which will lead to being worried all the time that will ultimately lead to depression (or something like that). Too much data is also a bad thing sometimes....

[@jmoss55ish]

My Apple Watch series 2 actually alerted me that I was having a problem in 2017. An EKG showed there wasn’t a problem. But as time wore on and then I was starting to physically tell that something was going on, I pushed the issue. I had a stress test, that I aced. They put me on a Holter Monitor for 72 hours. It showed several times of Premature beats, but that was it. Because I could now feel my heart flutter and because my watch kept alerting me, I pushed a little more and I was given an Rx to wear the Holter Monitor for 30 days. Results...I do have Tachycardia, PSVT, SVT and, I’ve gone from having Low Blood Pressure to High Blood Pressure seemingly over night. My new Cardiologist suggested that I get the new Apple Watch! The PSVT’s and the SVT’s are coming from two different areas of my heart, one of which is rare (according to the Cardiologist). All this to say, from my personal experience, I am thankful for the Apple Watch!

[@EmilyLovesTea123]

Does the series 2 even have EKG ?

[@thomaskaufmann7214]

The Apple Watch 2, which I have currently, does not have this feature.

[@Dongdot123]

@@EmilyLovesTea123 that's why the doctor suggested to get a new apple watch

[@TrAnMu]

Here’s the thing though. A doctor shouldn’t be performing surgery based on this watch read out alone and they know that. So this is kinda an unfounded concern. If my watch tells me I have afib but then a doctor checks and I don’t or it’s something else, then I believe the doctor.

[@pupiniastewart1957]

So you would visit a doctor each time your Apple watch tells you that you have afib? It brings up a false sense of concern.

[@f.p.5410]

@@pupiniastewart1957 if after you visit the doctor for the first time you see that the Apple EKG isn't that accurate then (assuming that the Apple watch results have low variance) you can just accept that slight afib on the Apple Watch is your standard condition and you should only be alarmed when the EKG warns you that your afib got much worse. If, on the other hand, the Apple Watch can't even generate false positives with low variance it's just trash.

[@Takito_Loko]

What if the doctor is wrong tho, a lot of doctors could make mistakes

[@EnnTomi1]

But so far it has been really promising according reddit

[@f.p.5410]

@@Takito_Loko Yes, it happens. Nothing you can do about it. They certainly make less mistakes than an Apple Watch though, their tests are way more precise than what is physically possible for a watch.

[@seanrawlinson]

Claim: Using the Apple Watch ECG will lead to false positives and result in unnecessary surgery. Rebuttal: Using the Apple Watch will detect possible heart issues that can be investigated by their doctor and ruled out with further testing. No doctor would suggest heart surgery based on a Apple Watch ECG reading alone. Claim: You should only be using ECGs if you are over 65 years old because they are more at risk of heart issues but are less likely to own an Apple Watch. Rebuttal: Apple is clearly marketing their watch as a health device and I have seen numerous tech reviewers on KZbin buying these for their older parents who are at risk of falling. The Apple Watch has fall detection which is a risk for older people. The Apple Watch is clearly marketed towards older people as well. This video is unnecessarily alarmist. The Apple Watch is aimed as a precautionary measure. It is better to be safe than sorry. If you have a false positive, at least you went to the doctor, rarely people do. Perhaps the doctor will discover another health issue that you have while you are there.

[@rosscomt5295]

Sean Rawlinson that's actually how a good few people discover they have cancer. You went to the hospital for a different reason but came out with something else.

[@supme7558]

Then whats the point go get tested shut up

[@atomicbrain9401]

3:08 - dude. If someone comes to you because their Apple Watch possibly detected a problem then you better 100% run tests using your fancy doctor equipment. No one is expecting the watch to be the end all answer to this. It’s just a tool for detection (that has yet to prove its reliability/accuracy) and the wording this doctor used should have been more direct in saying “we will definitely use our own tools to find out if something is wrong”

[@Crispman_777]

It's about patient overload. There's no point going to a doctor for a follow up test if you're in a low risk group and don't have any symptoms. It wastes their time and money that could be used to treat someone who's actually sick. It also wastes your time (and money for those without an NHS or medical plan) if you're in said group.

[@jong9379]

Sounds like the main point of this video went over your head. If all these paranoid people wearing Apple watch freak out and go to hospitals in droves, they RAISE THE COSTS OF HEALTHCARE with their bullshit paranoia. Not to mention, they hog up all the resources, and time from patients WHO DO NEED these facilities.

[@abubakrakram6208]

Jon G Agreed, but it goes beyond that. A lot of those people will not feel comforted, even after a proper test revealing its nothing. They may stay paranoid, believing that it happened temporarily and will happen again later. These are the people that will essentially turn themselves into patients when there’s nothing wrong with them. We’ve seen this with WebMD already. The only difference is, with WebMD people are starting to realize the way to avoid said fear it to just avoid the website. With the Apple Watch, people are rushing to use ECG instead to simply not using it, because they don’t recognize the risks. These false positives can be scary… like, stop-your-life scary, and the fear doesn’t always go away.

[@surjitsingg6921]

👘1 `☆0 I9555 aDwz 61kluxgwb ib1s ₩0uqi

[@ZeldagigafanMatthew]

And that's precisely the problem. So many people are going to be coming to hospitals because their smart watch picked up an irregularity, which puts strain on the system and in some extreme cases, may prevent the people who actually need this equipment from getting it.

[@harrybrammer4786]

i think its great to use as a warning system, because if it flags something, you can get it looked at professionally

[@Beati3]

As someone over 50 who has had AF in the past, this sounds great. I'd still use my blood pressure machine to confirm before doing anything like taking medication, but as an early warning, I'd be happy to use it. Better to know you're in rapid AF and need to seek the emergency room than sit quietly and have a stroke.

[@LivingTheDream77]

Next gen apple watch will have blood glucose measurement too

[@HarryL2020]

Me: Hey, my Apple watch said I need surgery. Doctor: Okay you need surgery right away, we have no time to confirm if you really have an issue! I'm not a Apple fan, but what is the downside to being able to see a potential health issue?

[@shanuyadav7273]

Harry 8642 hey can you the app for ECG cant find it

[@AdamBrackney]

Lol, no doctor's scheduling bypass surgery based on your Apple Watch. This is so silly.

[@TaskerTech]

I don't care about false positive. I would go see a doctor anyway before surgery.

[@Piesy001]

Rather than just give yourself the bypass surgery straight away?

[@TaskerTech]

@@Piesy001 yep, I know I could do it myself at the kitchen table... but I prefer a doctor, this way I get medical leave.

[@Yutani_Crayven]

The criticism of false positives makes little sense. You should treat it as an *additional indicator of potential problems, not as a replacement for EKGs.* Freaking out and following it up with a medical professional is not a bad thing. *You should encourage more people to consult with medical professionals, not discourage them because their concerns might be wrong.*

[@McDonaldsDude]

@@deadeaded They're not overworked

[@Fear.of.the.Dark.]

even 12 lead EKGs have false positives. So it can lead to overdiagnosis and anxiety attacks.

[@oof9281]

@@McDonaldsDude Where do you live? They are definitely overworked

[@McDonaldsDude]

@@oof9281 I live in California and they're about to give medicare for illegals. If doctors were overworked they wouldn't do that.

[@oof9281]

@@McDonaldsDude ok where i live doctors are overworked

[@smks8er]

If a false positive leads to further tests wouldn't you expect those "further tests" such as is the case with a 12-lead EKG done at a hospital or medical lab to be more accurate and for the results of those tests to contradict your false positive reading? What are the odds that both your Apple Watch EKG and the hospitals 12-lead results turn out to be false positives leading to an unnecessary bypass surgery? Those seem like extremely small odds. Also a 1-2% mortality rate is really good is it not?

[@expandingsalad786]

**you literally haven't mentioned the accuracy rate of it**

[@foxworthall1]

For real

[@BRVvideos]

How is going it to the doctor for getting checked a bad thing? I am 21 and only now found out I have a heart issue for going to the doctor without any symptoms

[@lawrencemessina7364]

I was a FDNY paramedic lieutenant worked in both World Trade Center incidents. When I retired I took a job driving a 40 foot bus for lehigh university. One morning while starting my route my Apple Watch sent me a message showing my ekg (pulse rate) was 210 beats a minute A ambulance took me to the hospital where the er found me in a fib . Now being treated with a cardiologist for my new condition.

[@WCephei77HD]

I noticed the GP doctor and also a nurse having an attitude against the Apple Watch when I told them about it. At the ER the nurse told me that their machine will be much better than “your watch” and that “you shouldn’t listen to your watch”, I’m less than an hour she tells me… oh yeah, the EKG machine has picked up aFib now.

[@joeroganpodfantasy42]

If it saves 1 live it's worth it, coming back 4 years later this has saved thousands of lives the doctor should have his licence revoked

[@ac31o19]

Didn’t CNET do the same thing with the same doctor ?

[@Yathuprem]

But different conclusion, and focused on different things

[@Crispman_777]

@@Yathuprem What did it say?

[@drewksidetour]

I knew he looked familiar!

[@Yathuprem]

@@Crispman_777 Made some comments about how CLOSE are the result compared to medical instruments.

[@Crispman_777]

@@Yathuprem Right. Was it good?

[@robertbrown4272]

i was sitting on my deck and my watch alerted me that my heartbeat was 135 resting. felt no symptoms. did the watch ecg which showed AFib. went to ER next day and had cardioversion 2days later after AFlutter diagnosed. i would have noticed nothing without watch

[@jaridkeen123]

Why would to take an Apple Watch EKG Seriously, I dont think anyone is saying that. It's just an Earily warning system. If you test positive then go gat a Professional EKG.

[@jan2000nl]

It such a basic point. Amazing how this so called doctor misses it. Ah the joys of American health profession.

[@Jack_Hunt]

exactly

[@dalfifran7572]

@@jan2000nl Not really. Because treatment and option is not a free risk. So aside from potentially wasting a good chunk of your money, time, and resource from a boatload more test, It also potentially expose an otherwise perfectly healthy person to a risk they getting from the preventive/treatment. This video didn't discuss or explain it in great detail, and frankly quite poor explaining it. Here's one of Cardiologist expressing his thought. It's a legit concern. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWHWp2aBqtqlntk

[@wishingb5859]

There is a 6-lead EKG from Kardia that maybe could be a second level of surety and that is read by a cardiologist for $10 per month.

[@Joshtheweatherman]

My Watch and the doctors have saved my life once inside a hot plant facility. I was drinking plenty of water, but my heart beat was too fast and I passed out. They put me into the ambulance, and took me to the ER. They found out that I had a serious heat stroke which caused a blood clot, and only 30% of people survive from it. If it hadn’t been for that Watch, the ambulance would’ve been much later arriving, and I could’ve died. It called emergency services way before my coworkers did. When you’re in that type of situation, every second counts.

[@vasilijevuckovic4906]

I think this watch is enough for you to notice that something is wrong,for a warning solo, and than you go to a doctor for more serious tests.

[@Crispman_777]

It's about patient overload. There's no point going to a doctor for a follow up test if you're in a low risk group and don't have any symptoms. It wastes their time and money that could be used to treat someone who's actually sick. It also wastes your time (and money for those without an NHS or medical plan) if you're in said group.

[@smks8er]

@@Crispman_777 well if you don't have symptoms then you aren't going to go to the doctor, so I don't see how patient overload would be a problem If youre young and healthy with no symptoms you can expect the EKG's that you run on your Apple Watch to always be normal. In the event of a false positive you might go to the doctor but most likely the more comprehensive medical tests would clear you of any danger. False positives are not the norm actually they are the exception so the amount of extra patients that would end up at a hospital because of a false positive would be negligible and probably undetectable.

[@Phoenix-ov5gg]

No one is going to get bypass surgery from an Apple Watch, if the watch flagged up an issue they would get proper testing done and if the benefits outweighed the risks, get surgery, or adjust their lifestyle to improve the problem. Doctors are just mad that people no longer have to pay hundreds for routine ekg tests.

[@aliciakohn7836]

I am very happy that both of my elderly parents and many of my friends elderly parents have this watch. For my father in heart failure we are using it to track all sorts of health data and coordinating it with doctors to see how accurate it is. It is a new device for him but we all feel relieved that he has one. It also is extremely helpful in a fall situation. My friends mother took a bad fall and that watch asked her if she wanted to call 911. This is a product that i feel strongly that all elderly loved one should have.

[@JokerTheDank]

Just bought a scalpel, my sister will perform a bypass this afternoon since my Casio said I have low blood pressure.

[@LorenzoHodges]

I understand the concerns raised in the video, especially as it pertains to too many people overloading the health system. But I think knowledge is better than ignorance overall. Tech of this nature gives people options and convenience which they didn’t have access to before. I think the benefits outweigh the concerns raised here. I’m glad for the medical perspective though.

[@TheFiftyQuid]

I suffer from occasional SVT. I have had ablation surgery which helped, but did not solve the issue entirely. My doctor recommended an Apple Watch or Kardia EKG just for monitoring and sending in EKG results to him (via email) if I have another episode.

[@ulysisxtr]

What worries me is false negatives, because then the people will think everything is ok......

[@anshkapoor7134]

without the apple watch you wouldn't know if it would be a positive or negative either

[@nickparkin8527]

that makes 0 logical sense

[@Jagnathbaba]

You are absolutely correct. This is the argument they should have made in this video and not the false positive one.

[@henningbeier8996]

I managed to make an ECG with my applewatch during a syncope as I got a warning just prior to my fainting. It showed ventricular flutter. Subsequent MRI showed scar tissue from a myocarditis and I got an ICD.

[@VardhanShrivastava]

My watch says something fishy with my heart... Doctor : hey fam..let me open up your chest straight away!

[@yaksmowing]

My cardiologist recommend I buy one but I had an AF attack a few months back.

[@fluffyfox6045]

Well, it has saved the life on many people since it got released..

[@jean2084]

As a medical student and an apple watch owner I can tell that the apple watch is not really an EKG. EKGs have 12 leads, meaning we measure the electrical waves coming from 12 different locations in space. A-fib is special in that the characteristic pattern is seen in all leads. But there is a whole array of arrhythmias and “wave forms” out there and we can’t see them using just one lead, specially lead I which is what the Apple Watch gives you. This is good for A-fib screening but in no way replaces a real EKG.

[@hkyt21]

I often think if an insuring company give them customers Apple watches or fitness trackers for free, the customers would be more aware of them health, therefore they would keep them health better and the company wouldn't need to pay a lot of money for medication for them customers, which is a good cycle. But this might be a case of too good to be true things tho.

[@hkyt21]

@@dr_intel Why? Being better aware of health and activities doesn't mean having more tests. And doctors won't decide if patients should take a test depending on if they're with such a device. What is your reason to think patients with such a device will have unnecessary tests? Never say the devices aren't so accurate because doctors never decide what to do for patients only based on data from these.

[@j800r]

If a person is concerned, they simply make an appointment with their GP. That's what they're there for. The small, general things. You're not wasting their time any more than anybody else. Here in the UK you can't even make an appointment to see a specialist without a referral so in that case it's the medical system that's messed up. ...Unless we're talking about people calling emergency services or going into A&E in which case they're clearly overreacting and are the type to overreact to anything. Apple have merely offered a health aid. An additional optional tool. It's not designed to replace a hospital grade ECG.

[@BabyGonzo5]

My series 3 told me that my heart rate was to high. I was out breath went doctors and needed three units of blood.

[@Jack_Hunt]

So it worked out well and you are glad you had it?

[@meininger1023]

My dad is a cardiologist, and he uses the Apple Watch ekg, and he used his other ekg phone attachment, and they were the same

[@matthewjackson9615]

The cardiologist I talked to yesterday said that the apple smartwatch was legit and fairly accurate when it came to ecg monitoring. Amazon is entering the medical wearables market also. I wish they would step up their game and make it happen. These devices in all fairness aren't going to have the sensitivity and supreme accuracy of a clinical grade ECG machine but they are coming along fast. No one is expecting these wearables to substitute for highfalutin clinical grade diagnostic equipment.

[@terryheaton31]

I love this feature and is the reason I purchased the watch. I had periods of being lightheaded when just walking around. Turned out to have undiagnosed SVT which I had probably had for years..

[@DecrepitCoot32]

Whenever I watch something about the heart my heart hurts

[@hamad-pz3rp]

Congrats, you havw anxiety

[@DecrepitCoot32]

Yay

[@tristan6509]

0:47 top left corner, is that a laser portable that runs basic?

[@hunterhealer8022]

Did the doctor just said. Sinus arrhythmia a sign of good health??

[@ykert81]

I was looking through the comments to see if anyone else caught that. I disregarded his expertise as soon as he said that. Arrhythmias are typically not a sign of good health.

[@hunterhealer8022]

Yes. At least that's what I learned in med school. Unless someone can give me a scientific journal stating otherwise. I stand to be corrected.

[@lancelove7225]

Hunter Healer I caught that too. I’m very surprised more people didn’t .

[@aw9955]

@@lancelove7225 im a medical student and i also caught that lol

[@leasierra]

Sinus arrhythmias could be a sign of good health. www.escardio.org/Journals/E-Journal-of-Cardiology-Practice/Volume-4/Electrocardiographic-findings-in-athletes-Title-Electrocardiographic-findings Bradycardia is hugely frequent on intense sports practitioners. Also what i learned in med school.

[@aryangandhi3311]

This video literally took of so much of my stress

[@GoogleEdits]

Actually tnx to the Apple watch I found out that I had 11 hart stops at night. So I went to see a doctor and I got diagnosed with sleep apnea. I'm 20 years old so finding this out now was worth the 459 euros xD

[@antipolardream5019]

OMG wow that's cool hope ir fine

[@TesserLink]

Apple even states in the app that you shouldn’t fully trust the results, if you have an issue go to the doctor.

[@prajwalparmar4486]

More videos like this 👍🏻 Keep doing the good work.

[@RayyDawggg]

Prajwal Parmar THIS VIDEO WAS TRASH HAHAHA WTF YOU TALKING ABOUT

[@Thelittleclipstore]

Apple watched turned my life around for the better.. I suddenly noticed how my heart rate jumps up when I stand and no dr ever told me but now I believe I had it since a teen and now I’m in my 30s.. now I since I know I have pots I’ve been able to do certain exserize and life style changes to improve and I also no more see myself as lazy.. I would never want to stand long or walk much and I was bashed for it. Every dr I went to told me it’s just stress. I’m so great full for my watch

[@brokenwizards9122]

Is this video saying regular checkups are bad? Obviously people aren’t going to just go to the doctor for no reason. Many people who get an Apple Watch will be those that are overweight that want to improve their health. Personally I never get sick so I haven’t been to a doctor in 15 years

[@Camboo10]

No it's not saying regular checkups are bad but if got a checkup you would know that ecg is not routinely done save for 1. high-risk patients 2. patients with symptoms or 3. people with occupational reasons to get one e.g. pilot.There is a reason for this and it's because the research says you would do more harm to someone if you found something and did further testing and it was benign (most likely) and that regular screenings e.g. listening to heart sounds and taking vital signs to include heart rate and blood pressure is a better screening anyways. At least that's what we know right now it may change in the future but I just disagree that the general public should be the Ginny pig for this as is what is happening right now.

[@brokenwizards9122]

Cameron Alexander - I wonder if people thought the same as you whenever the general public started keeping thermometers in the house.

[@Camboo10]

@@brokenwizards9122 Okay I acknowledged that it may change but that still dosn't debunk the fact that ecgs are not part of any EBM routine checkup. I don't disagree with people checking there own blood pressure or learning how to take a pulse in general or even just learning about health. Its just the electrocardiography is not the same because there are simply too many factors. should people be kept in the dark about this information? no, absolutely not what I am saying. The burden just shouldn't be on doctors to fix the non-issue turning into an issue because studies have not been conducted yet and people have not been properly educated.

[@abubakrakram6208]

Broken Wizards This is such a ridiculous analog. Thermometers help identify fevers, which are commons in EVERYONE and nearly always indicate some form of infection. That’s different than constant, round the clock screening for a disease that the young people who wear these watches seldom ever have.

[@brokenwizards9122]

AbuBakr Akram - it’s actually a great analogue for how I used it. A medical device that is commonly found in homes. A device that will give results at home, but will 100% of the time still be rechecked in a medical setting. A device that lets people know more about what’s going on with their body.

[@Zephyr.Lo-Renz]

Forgoe any issue with EKG scans on your wrist. After i viewed this video my more pressing concern is: How i too can use the FaceTime feature on my Apple Watch series 4 ?

[@franklaserna3871]

Theres no comments to read😂😅

[@RazsterTW]

Why not run both test at the same time to see?

[@vismaydharod313]

EKG ? What the hell ? Do you spell Cardio as Kardio ?

[@mattlava]

EKG is the german acronym, theres an acronym that's very similar and or the same as ECG I cant remember lol, so they use the german version to minimize confusion in the medical field

[@anisyarvnt]

It is only one lead compared to 12 leads in elektrocardiograph. Is it really reliable?

[@VytenisR1]

Guy: soo.. my apple watch flag my heart M.D.: bypass surgery it is!

[@CTLatteberry]

are they recommending not to use it at all or to just not take the results too seriously? cause they making it seem like a bigger problem than it really is

[@MrFilske]

The argument is really poor tbh. The Apple watch is just an indicator... Its nothing to put All your "apples in the basket" for... Common People!

[@chinito5322]

I know someone a doctor, and a dentist and a Taxi driver at the same time. He's a cool guy.

[@kimjongtrump1934]

Arrogant doctors scared of loosing customers.

[@steventa7734]

Kim Jong Trump they charge too expensive anyway

[@abubakrakram6208]

Kim Jong Trump Wouldn’t the false positives from the Apple Watch get them MORE customers coming in for screening? Your comment makes no sense.

[@kimjongtrump1934]

AbuBakr Akram yes it does make sense, since they don’t need a doctor any more to check their health.

[@abubakrakram6208]

Kim Jong Trump Maybe they wouldn’t need a doc in the far future. But today, it’s just gonna make folks come in to get checked.

[@FRAMEDSKATEKREW69]

AbuBakr Akram it can work both ways, people might feel something’s wrong then check using their watch and find nothing wrong. So then they decide not to go to the hospital

[@akshaychandran5332]

The anchor guy almost died when the doctor took a pause after saying sinus arrythmia

[@EdgarHernandez-xj5mx]

Damn this is just fearmongering

[@marywright7707]

I have a heart disorder called vasodepressor syncope and I take all my meds but I still have problems. I wanted it constantly monitor it and allow my doctor to see what’s going on with it and why I still have problems. I’m so excited that you didn’t say it was inaccurate.

[@scare_duardo]

The Alabama university professor saying that a false positive from the Apple Watch can lead to an unnecessary bypass surgery sounds ridiculous. I’m not a doctor but you’re not gonna end up on an operating table JUST because your Apple Watch detects something. It’s meant to be a first line of defense and nothing else people.

[@jpatt84]

what doctor would recommend bypass surgery after one wrong Apple Watch reading?

[@blues_fan]

So basically don’t buy Apple products that’s your motto, Verge. You could have told in the beginning of the video, I would have saved my 10 mins.

[@binozia-old-2031]

Indranil Ghosh but that doesn’t get the point across

[@Jillian-Jill]

My Mother & her Brother & Sisters are all in their 80's. 👵 They all have Apple Watches because they like the fall detection feature. My Aunt fell in her back garden recently & her Apple watch detected her fall and offered her assistance straight away. 👍 Also, my Uncle is 87 yrs old - recently his Apple watch detected an unusual heart rate. ❤️ My Uncle hadn't been feeling well that day anyway, so after his watch detected the unusual heart rate he decided to go to the hospital. He ended up having to stay in hospital for a week due to heart problems. The Apple watch is a fantastic device for senior citizens. 👍 💜💘💜

[@maru7042]

*interviews literally one doctor* "why doctors are worried about the Apple watch EKG" you didn't even spell ECG right

[@mattlava]

That is the correct spelling, EKG is the german version of ECG and it's used over ECG due to a similar acronym to minimize confusion. This video was pretty bogus though other than that

[@alexandertran3659]

So i got an apple watch as a present. I ran the EKG app on my parents and it told me that my dad might have afib. He went to see a few doctors and they had ran a few diagnostic tests, including a cardiac PET scan. Now he has an appointment for a cardioversion.

[@charlesbong7]

Unemployed Doctor -> "It's Not Good For Your Health."

[@kellydysantini6498]

Can’t find this app in apple store

[@wesleychapman9001]

7:12-7:22 weird flex but ok

[@amritjanardhanan]

What's the chance of a false positive though? Would it be a problem of hardware or apple's software?

[@Philson]

The rest of the world just calls it ECG.

[@jakeabc123]

Philson It’s called EKG now because it sounds too similar to EEG, which is completely different test.

[@Rvalivesound]

I know someone who uses the Kardia device because they had afib one time. This thing works. They had it on in the ER and tested it while getting tested for afib on a real EKG machine. Just like they said in the video... if you know you are at risk it might be a good thing to have on hand. Since this person I know had a recent afib event, it was highly recommended that they get the device and start taking readings every day. Without the Kardia device this person would have been forced to spend lots of time in a hospital being hooked to the machines overnight to gather enough data points to make a diagnosis and provide treatment options. These devices allow you to gather similar data while you go about your normal daily activities. If you dont need one, you can still use the other functions if you buy a smartwatch! If you dont have any problems with the electrical signal that runs your heart then you dont need to worry about any of this! Good for you!!!

[@icc3874]

The priceing of this watch is what's going to give you a heart attack

[@Xosidhe]

2:25 how is a sinus arrhythmia a sign of good health? I see respiratory sinus arrhythmias in peds but would document it as abnormal in an adult patient. That guy doesn’t look super athletic, so if he had bradycardia or something I’d still mark it as abnormal. Maybe he meant “sinus rhythm”?

[@optimus_prime_____]

Soooo. This video was all very pointless yes?

[@khy7672]

Can you speak on apple now having seizure detection for the watch

[@ClayMationNation]

The neat thing about this feature is that it allows you to save the graphs on your iphones watch app and then send them to your doctor for more close knit monitoring.

[@jmid8467]

In Holland we don’t have this update yet.

[@thobanimqadi]

It's important that this video was made. Thanks Verge.

[@ovidiumoc.3904]

You can send an e-mail to some doctor like 3 to 5 daya after one bad EKG, depending also on the age of the individual and other symptoms....in theory i think it is very HELPfull !!!

[@yandan8]

So Apple instructions say don't use it if you are already diagnosed with AFib. Your video says use it if you are older and have need for AFib detection (good chance AFib already diagnosed). So which is it? Also, what risk is there really of a false positive?

[@theleakytap4591]

Can you use this to check someone’s pulse

[@ASPIRE1355LC]

So Dr Seth Landfeld, at 4:50, is saying that cardiologists do unnecessary surgery? That's a real eye opener as I thought they would look at all their results and only elect for surgery if it was absolutely necessary and would be thankful for a watch that hinted at an unseen problem. If you have an operating theatre on hand there's no point in wasting it I suppose waiting around for a real case to come along.

[@onlythebrave87]

but not available in the UK :-(

[@suharikcom]

How do you calibrate the watch?

[@JessicaMatthews]

As someone who is under 65 (36), otherwise healthy, and as AFib issues? This watch is something I really want in my life. Just waiting impatiently for an Android version, because I don't own an iPhone.