Chapter 1: Understanding AFib and the Role of Apple Watch

Recently, I received a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib. This heart condition is characterized by irregular heartbeats, and it turns out I had it for several years without realizing it. Fortunately, I have an excellent cardiologist, and the treatment has been effective so far. However, I remain vigilant about any irregularities in my heart function, which is why I decided to invest in an Apple Watch shortly after my diagnosis.

I appreciate the Apple Watch for its design and its basic functionality, such as telling time. Additionally, it provides notifications that help me decide when to check my phone. Yet, my primary motivation for purchasing the watch was to monitor my heart health. My doctor supports this choice, and our discussions often begin with me reporting, “I haven’t received any heart-related notifications from my watch since our last appointment.” His consistent reply is, “That’s great to hear.” For him, the Apple Watch serves as a useful tool in managing my health.

I was excited to learn about the upcoming AFib tracker in watchOS 9, announced during the recent Apple Event. The official watchOS 9 page highlights the features of the AFib History app:

If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, enable AFib History to estimate how often your heart experiences this arrhythmia. This information is crucial as it may relate to your risk of serious health complications.

Moreover, the Health app allows you to identify lifestyle factors that might affect your AFib duration, such as sleep patterns, exercise routines, and weight management. You can also share this information with your healthcare provider and track when your AFib episodes are most frequent throughout the day or week.

This approach effectively targets individuals with specific health needs. The updates resonate with the reasons I initially chose to get the Apple Watch. Apple is clearly indicating, “We’re providing more and improved features!”

While this message may primarily reach those already convinced, I’m glad to be among them. It’s refreshing to purchase a product that fulfills its intended purpose so effectively.

9to5 Mac forecasts that this new app is merely the beginning of a broader “Apple Health revolution.” This phrase captures the essence of the changes taking place (the article also details instances where the Watch has helped save lives, which is worth a read).

Although my situation is quite specific, if you’ve been diagnosed with any heart-related issues—especially AFib—the Apple Watch is a valuable investment in your future well-being.

PostScript:

I’m also interested in the new sleep tracking capabilities introduced in watchOS 9. Here’s what Apple mentions on the product page:

You can now monitor how much time you spend in REM, Core, or Deep sleep, and identify when you might have awakened.

Additionally, the updated Health app on iPhone features sleep comparison charts that display metrics like heart rate and respiratory rate, revealing how these parameters fluctuate throughout the night.

While these features sound impressive, it raises a practical question: If I wear the watch all day to track my heart and all night to monitor my sleep, when will I find the time to charge it?

The first video, Apple Watch Series 10 Review: Scientific Heart Rate Test!, offers insights into how the latest model performs in heart rate monitoring, especially for AFib patients.

The second video, Apple Watch Series 8: Scientific Long-term Review, discusses the long-term effectiveness of the watch for heart health management, emphasizing its benefits for users with heart conditions.