Apple Watch user says device could've 'saved their life' following unexpected notification that lead then to ER
While Apple has downplayed the reliability of its health metrics on numerous occasions, there are still plenty of moments when your Apple Watch could provide you with vital information.
One user believes that an unexpected notification might just have saved their life.
Most people only really pay attention to metrics like their heart rate or sleep score when tracking their health with an Apple Watch, yet behind the scenes, the wearable is constantly keeping an eye on your vitals to spot any irregularities.
Apple's official advice is that most health metrics tracked with an Apple Watch are estimates and are not a substitute for medical analysis or advice from your doctor, yet it's still able to point out issues that you might miss on your own.
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This is exactly what happened with u/MelodicInitiative603, who shared their story on the r/AppleWatch subreddit, as they claim that an alarming notification from the device 'may have saved my life' as it prompted them to head to the hospital.
How did the Apple Watch save their life?
Detailing their experience in the post, the Reddit user revealed that the device either saved their life or, at the very leas, lengthened it, with a notification on a Monday morning playing a pivotal role.
"Monday morning my watch alerted me that I was in a-fib [atrial fibrillation]," they explain. "I had been feeling 'off' but am otherwise healthy so I chalked it up to dehydration or stress. I had never experienced a-fib before and didn't even understand what it was."
If you've never heard of the term, atrial fibrillation is used to refer to an issue with the rhythm of your heart, where it beats at an irregular pace that's often rapid due to faulty electrical signals.
This can cause blood to pool within your heart as the upper chambers struggle to pump into the ventricles, significantly raising the risk of dangerous clots that can lead to heart failure and even death.
"One ambulance ride later I was in the ER," the post continued, "eventually got admitted, and now 4 days later I feel great."
Comments saw the original poster reveal that they are thankfully no longer experiencing a-fib too, and they are now on Eliquis and another form of medication with plans to see a cardiologist next week.
What to do if you receive a health notification from your Apple Watch
One of the most important things for you to do if you receive a health notification similar to that found above is to seek medical advice, because even if it's nothing to worry about, you always run the risk of ignoring something that could have serious consequences in the short- and long-term.
It's often the case that your Apple Watch has picked up an irregularity that you would otherwise have no idea existed, and therefore it's worth getting it checked out to be sure that it's not a sign of something more sinister.
It's not uncommon to brush these notifications off if you feel fine, but both health experts and regular people who have done the same will tell you that you're running a risk that's simply not worth taking.
"I'm guilty of this," wrote one commenter underneath the aforementioned post, referring to the process of ignoring health notifications. "I woke up one morning with a low heart rate alert. I ignored it. By evening the chest pain started.
"My wife is a cardiac nurse," the comment continued. "I knew better, I was just stubborn. Took months before she fully forgave me for my idiocy."