Smart Watches,,

[JJ_BPK]

Smart Watches,, for Geriatrics?

SO, In ten days, I will mark my 75th successful circumnavigational trip around the Sun.

Being a tad OCD,, I have thought I should look at a device that can warn me of impending medical emergencies that can potentially be terminal and a collection point for medical info. eg: heart rate, sleeping cycles, O2 levels, and heart irregularities (ECG/EKG).

Most of the current "Smart Watches" are geared toward fitness. For this reason, I have discounted the "FitBit" style. In my perception, I see them as collectors of athletic-type info and not medical warning devices.

Currently, I am focused on the Apple Series 8 and Ultra, although I have read a bit about the Garmin Epix 2 & Feniz 7X

My Notes:
1)Apple 8 and Ultra are feature equals
2)The Ultra is larger, heavier, and has twice the battery time,, also twice the price.

I am currently leaning toward the Apple 8 41mm.


Please opine.. g

[sg1987]

I have a Garmin Tactix Delta. The app provides loads of information. O2 saturation rates, respiration rates, etc..

And congratulations and happy birthday, sir!

[Paslode]

Several years ago I was having Afib and bouts of Atrial Tachycardia so I purchased an Apple Watch. With the Apple Watch I could get HR, EKG and send it to my doc, plus I could track the duration of the episodes and start/stop times. That DATA was recorded in my iPhone Health App.

I always knew when I was having an episode, but the data the Apple Watch provided help in finding triggers and that my episodes generally began around 6pm and averaged 12 hours in duration. Anything with caffeine in it was a trigger, as was heat and humidity.

If you're a hypochondriac, a smart watch might not be a good idea

[milkman]

I have Apple special edition.

Lots of fitness tracking.

Also calls 911 if I don't respond to a fall.

Also constant tracking my BP with alarms if BP gets high or low

Also alarms if sounds are to high

Also answers my iPhone when there is a scam and i can talk on my watch to someone, that's good while driving or exercising.

Must be dozens of watch faces to satisfy your interes

more features that i haven't used

[pyreaux]

My wife uses oura ring, seems less obtrusive and I think also longer battery life than Apple watches at least. Maybe dependant on your personal style. The ring if I recall correctly tracks pulse, sleep, and body temp, to the point of sending her a notification that she may be ill, it has correctly predicted the onset of a round of covid and another virus or two for her. Might be worth checking to see if it has all the capabilities you're looking for.

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

SO, In ten days, I will mark my 75th successful circumnavigational trip around the Sun.

OUT-standing! I'm sure it's coincidence that's the day I'm supposed to go pickup some gear from the clinic to take home & do some overnight Pulse/Oximetry collection. Harrumph! I'll bet it weighs more than whatever you buy. Birthday threads are better. Screw this poking & prodding stuff.

Good luck with the search. Tagged.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Paslode

Several years ago I was having Afib and bouts of Atrial Tachycardia so I purchased an Apple Watch. With the Apple Watch I could get HR, EKG and send it to my doc, plus I could track the duration of the episodes and start/stop times. That DATA was recorded in my iPhone Health App.

I always knew when I was having an episode, but the data the Apple Watch provided help in finding triggers and that my episodes generally began around 6pm and averaged 12 hours in duration. Anything with caffeine in it was a trigger, as was heat and humidity.

If you're a hypochondriac, a smart watch might not be a good idea

I post a similar thread to FB, and one of the replies was from Marjorie M,, Marjie was my 1st crush in Kindergarten, she lived several houses up the street from me, and we walked to school daily, ANYWHO..

She purchased an Apple a couple of yrs ago, and shortly thereafter, the ECG/EKG "alarmed", she went to the ER, and it was verified she had an AFIB occurrence.

Now she's a believer, she doesn't Monkey around..

Others commented they also have one for AFIB.

Thanks for the comments

[18e.wannabe]

If you have a Samsung phone the Samsung Watch 4 has worked great for myself and offers allot of what you're looking for. Workouts, Steps, Heart Rate, Perceived Stress, O2, Snoring, Sleep quality, ECG/EKG, and even body composition for BMI (although it doesn't appear to be very consistent for BMI measuring).

It isn't an extremely rugged smartwatch like a Garmin but it is more economical as you can get them for around 300 USD.

[Paslode]

I should add that a major influence for getting the watch was that one of my customers had Afib but did not get diagnosed until after they had 2 strokes and lost much of the movement of their right side.

I had an ablation and haven't had any issues since, even on hot and humid days.

Another feature of the Apple Watch that some find useful is the fall detection. You can set it up to call 911 and family members should watch detect a fall.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Paslode

Another feature of the Apple Watch that some find useful is the fall detection. You can set it up to call 911 and family members should watch detect a fall.

Can it tell the difference between the type of falls?

Like you know,, down the stairs,, off the roof,, off a bar stool??
Inquiring minds want to know


Thank you all for the input.


I settled on the Series 8 and pulled the trigger last nite.

An Aside: I watched several YT vids on ECG/EKG and one that reviewed the Apple by a cardiologist. For those that are curious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HxOWCw4hEU

I lost the link, but I watched one vid that suggested that you can emulate I, II, II, aVF, aVL, and aVR by moving the watch to different areas of the body. I don't see that as very useful to a non-medical job description, but if you get lost in the jungle, it may be helpful.

[MR2]

"but if you get lost in the jungle"

Supervisor: Are you sure it's him!

NSA Tech: Yep, I'd know that ventricular notch anywhere...

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by MR2

"but if you get lost in the jungle"

Supervisor: Are you sure it's him!

NSA Tech: Yep, I'd know that ventricular notch anywhere...

L M CW-speaking A O
dit dit

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

I settled on the Series 8 and pulled the trigger last nite.

So this thing can be had with a dial face? Or does it have multiple & you select?

[JJ_BPK]

Ad infinitum...

Apple claims there are "over two million ways to see time" on the Apple Watch.

There will be 11 digital faces to choose from at launch, and adding specialized functions to each face gives you a "virtually endless" number of choices to personalize your device.

Here is a 5-minute explanation of how to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQMfoKaAZMw


PS: Additionally, There are aftermarket "change clock face" apps

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Can it tell the difference between the type of falls?

Like you know,, down the stairs,, off the roof,, off a bar stool??
Inquiring minds want to know


Thank you all for the input.


I settled on the Series 8 and pulled the trigger last nite.

An Aside: I watched several YT vids on ECG/EKG and one that reviewed the Apple by a cardiologist. For those that are curious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HxOWCw4hEU

I lost the link, but I watched one vid that suggested that you can emulate I, II, II, aVF, aVL, and aVR by moving the watch to different areas of the body. I don't see that as very useful to a non-medical job description, but if you get lost in the jungle, it may be helpful.

I thought it might be handy if I fell off a ladder, fortunately I have never had the opportunity. But I have activated the fall alert when slapping my hands down on a surface and when trying to knock a piece of drywall loose with my hand, I guess you could those false positives.