Your wrist can tell you more about your heart than you think. Learn how wearables track heart rate, detect irregular rhythms, and help you stay healthy.
Apple Watch and Fitbit both track heart rate continuously, can take ECG readings, and alert you to irregular rhythms. Turn on heart notifications, check your data weekly, and share PDF reports with your doctor at every visit.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults over 65. Wearables provide early warning signs between doctor visits.
Your watch checks your heart rate every few seconds, 24 hours a day. It catches things you might miss.
Both Apple Watch and Fitbit are FDA-approved to detect atrial fibrillation, a leading cause of stroke.
Get notified if your heart rate is unusually high, low, or irregular. Peace of mind on your wrist.
See your heart health trends over weeks and months. Notice changes before they become problems.
Apple Watch is the most popular smartwatch with powerful heart monitoring built in.
Take a medical-grade ECG reading in 30 seconds. Place your finger on the Digital Crown and the watch records your heart's electrical activity.
Apple Watch alerts you when your heart rate goes above or below thresholds you set.
Measures the oxygen level in your blood. Low levels can indicate respiratory or heart issues.
Fitbit offers excellent heart monitoring at various price points with a user-friendly app.
Every Fitbit tracks your resting heart rate. A rising resting heart rate over weeks can signal health changes worth discussing with your doctor.
Premium Fitbit models include FDA-cleared ECG. Hold your fingers on the watch for 30 seconds to get a reading.
HRV measures the variation between heartbeats. Higher HRV generally indicates better cardiovascular fitness and stress resilience.
Fitbit monitors your heart rhythm in the background and sends alerts if it detects potential AFib patterns.
Enable these features to get the most from your wearable.
Open the Health App
On your iPhone, open the Health app (white icon with red heart).
Enable Heart Notifications
Go to Browse → Heart → turn on High Heart Rate, Low Heart Rate, and Irregular Rhythm Notifications.
Take Your First ECG
Open the ECG app on your watch. Rest your arm on a table and hold your finger on the Digital Crown for 30 seconds.
Open the Fitbit App
On your phone, open the Fitbit app and tap your profile picture.
Turn On Heart Alerts
Go to your device settings → Heart Rate Settings → enable Irregular Rhythm Notifications and Heart Rate alerts.
Check Your Dashboard
Tap "Heart Rate" on the Today tab to see your resting heart rate, daily trends, and heart rate zones.
Wearables are powerful tools, but they have limitations.
Not a replacement for medical devices. Wearables are screening tools, not diagnostic instruments. Always follow up with your doctor.
Call 911 for emergencies. If you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness, call 911 immediately. Don't wait for your watch to confirm it.
Wear it snugly. A loose watch gives inaccurate readings. Wear it about one finger-width above your wrist bone.
Common questions about wearable heart monitors.
Yes. Apple Watch Series 4 and newer can take ECG readings and detect irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation. It also alerts you if your heart rate is unusually high or low.
Yes. Fitbit tracks resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and SpO2. Fitbit Sense 2 and Charge 6 also offer ECG readings and irregular rhythm notifications.
Absolutely. Both Apple Watch and Fitbit let you export PDF health reports. Bring these to your doctor appointments for a more complete picture of your heart health.
Apple Watch and Fitbit are clinically validated for heart rate tracking and AFib detection. They are FDA-approved screening tools, though not replacements for medical devices.
TechMaid can walk you through setting up heart monitoring on your Apple Watch or Fitbit step by step.
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