The Evolution of Heart Rate Monitoring: A Comparative Analysis between 12-lead EKG and Apple Watch EKG

As I sit at the UCSF Medical Center, hooked up to a 12-lead EKG, I am eager to compare its results with those from the single-lead EKG on my Apple watch. Upon reviewing my apps, I notice that there is now an EKG app available for use. The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, with only two squiggly lines displayed on the screen. To initiate the test, I simply place my finger on the digital crown, and the EKG counts begin. Miraculously, it starts taking readings in real-time, allowing me to see how my heart is functioning as it happens.

As I analyze the results from both devices, I notice that they reveal similar patterns of early beats within my heart rhythm. The single-lead EKG on my Apple watch shows two narrow beats and intermittently wider early beats, matching what we observe in a 12-lead EKG. This suggests that the Apple watch's EKG app is capable of detecting these anomalies, providing an initial understanding of any irregularities in my heart rhythm.

However, it's essential to note that the 12-lead EKG provides a more comprehensive picture of my heart's electrical activity. The additional leads on this device allow for precise localization of abnormal rhythms and can provide valuable information about potential health risks. In contrast, the single-lead EKG on the Apple watch only measures the frequency of my heartbeat over time but lacks detailed insights into the pattern of those beats.

The optical sensor used in both devices relies on changes in light to reflect off the heart as it beats, with more blood being absorbed between beats when vessels are filled. This phenomenon allows the Apple watch's EKG app to measure heart rhythm and alert users if the pattern suggests atrial fibrillation—a condition that can increase the risk of stroke and other serious complications.

While the 12-lead EKG is considered a gold standard for diagnosing cardiovascular conditions, the single-lead EKG on the Apple watch offers an innovative solution for monitoring heart health. By providing early detection capabilities and sharing results with doctors as a PDF, users like me can take proactive steps toward maintaining our well-being.

However, it's crucial to acknowledge the limitations of this technology, including the risk of false positive readings. The Apple watch is currently the only direct-to-consumer device featuring an integrated EKG, while other devices such as the CardioBand allow for remote testing outside a medical setting. Competitors like Garmin and Fitbit are also working to enhance their heart rate monitoring capabilities, further increasing competition in this rapidly evolving field.

In conclusion, the comparison between 12-lead EKG and Apple Watch EKG reveals the potential benefits and limitations of these devices in detecting irregular heart rhythms. While the Apple watch's EKG app offers a convenient and accessible solution for monitoring heart health, it is essential to recognize its limitations compared to the more comprehensive information provided by traditional 12-lead EKG readings.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enI'm at the UCSF Medical Center hooked up to a 12-lead EKG now I'm gonna compare the results of this test versus the one lead EKG on the Apple watch if I look at my apps now I'll notice that there's now an EKG app it's these squiggly lines over here and it's pretty simple to use I just put my finger on the digital crown and it starts taking the EKG counts down for about thirty seconds and it actually shows it live as it's happening so we see that you have these two narrow beats and it intermittently you have this wider early beat that that one right there that one right there so normal normal early normal normal early and that matches what we see on the EKG where you have normal normal early and wide so this would be really useful to screen for this or to to have the first understanding that you have these early beats it wouldn't tell us precisely where in the heart apart from the fact that it's coming from the lower chamber where is this 12 lead EKG that gives us essentially a fuller picture can tell us precisely where in the lower chamber that's coming from and am I going to die is something wrong with me you are not going to die these early beats are very common in some people they can lead to problems in the long term but let's take a look at how this actually works on the Apple watch an update to watch os gave users access to two fda-cleared features on the Apple watch an irregular heart rhythm notification and an EKG app exclusive to the series for both of which could warn users of potentially life-threatening heart conditions heart rate is not new to the Apple watch or wearables in general so the optical sensor on fitness trackers or smartwatches essentially uses changes in light that is reflected based on the Hulse when the heart beats and more blood is pumped into the vessels more light gets absorbed between beats when there's less blood more light gets reflected back into the receivers the Apple watch also uses this optical sensor to measure heart rhythm and alerts users when the pattern suggests atrial fibrillation a heart condition which can increase your risk of stroke and other serious heart complications so the heart rate is the frequency of the heartbeat over time but doesn't tell you anything about the pattern of those beats the rhythm has more to do with the relative spacing of those beats but to get a definitive diagnosis the doctor needs more information we would want to have an electrical confirmation of a diagnosis of HIV relation before we decide on acting on that and not base it in general on the pulse recording alone that's where the EKG comes in the EKG or electrocardiogram uses electrodes to measure the electrical activity that results from each expansion and contraction of the heart the Apple watch has one electrode on the back crystal and one electrode on the digital crown place your finger on the digital crown to close the circuit and stay still for 30 seconds to get a read so that's creating the same sort of connection between your left arm and your right arm but the results from the single lead EKG on the Apple watch which users can share as a PDF with their doctors gave dr. Marcus enough information to detect my early heartbeat and could help doctors reach a diagnosis sooner and so there's this hope that we might detect those people who did otherwise didn't know they had H or fibrillation and then treat them appropriately the flipside is that we recognize there's a risk of false positive results the Apple watch is the only direct to consumer device with a built-in EKG but there are other devices like the cardio band that let you take an EKG outside the doctor's office Apple watch competitors like Arman and Fitbit are also working to improve their heart rate monitoring as more tech companies focus on health care as a way to breathe new life into wearables I probably don't have afib but I would have never known about my early heartbeat without an EKG and now I might just have to pay another visit to dr. Marcus to get it checked out you youI'm at the UCSF Medical Center hooked up to a 12-lead EKG now I'm gonna compare the results of this test versus the one lead EKG on the Apple watch if I look at my apps now I'll notice that there's now an EKG app it's these squiggly lines over here and it's pretty simple to use I just put my finger on the digital crown and it starts taking the EKG counts down for about thirty seconds and it actually shows it live as it's happening so we see that you have these two narrow beats and it intermittently you have this wider early beat that that one right there that one right there so normal normal early normal normal early and that matches what we see on the EKG where you have normal normal early and wide so this would be really useful to screen for this or to to have the first understanding that you have these early beats it wouldn't tell us precisely where in the heart apart from the fact that it's coming from the lower chamber where is this 12 lead EKG that gives us essentially a fuller picture can tell us precisely where in the lower chamber that's coming from and am I going to die is something wrong with me you are not going to die these early beats are very common in some people they can lead to problems in the long term but let's take a look at how this actually works on the Apple watch an update to watch os gave users access to two fda-cleared features on the Apple watch an irregular heart rhythm notification and an EKG app exclusive to the series for both of which could warn users of potentially life-threatening heart conditions heart rate is not new to the Apple watch or wearables in general so the optical sensor on fitness trackers or smartwatches essentially uses changes in light that is reflected based on the Hulse when the heart beats and more blood is pumped into the vessels more light gets absorbed between beats when there's less blood more light gets reflected back into the receivers the Apple watch also uses this optical sensor to measure heart rhythm and alerts users when the pattern suggests atrial fibrillation a heart condition which can increase your risk of stroke and other serious heart complications so the heart rate is the frequency of the heartbeat over time but doesn't tell you anything about the pattern of those beats the rhythm has more to do with the relative spacing of those beats but to get a definitive diagnosis the doctor needs more information we would want to have an electrical confirmation of a diagnosis of HIV relation before we decide on acting on that and not base it in general on the pulse recording alone that's where the EKG comes in the EKG or electrocardiogram uses electrodes to measure the electrical activity that results from each expansion and contraction of the heart the Apple watch has one electrode on the back crystal and one electrode on the digital crown place your finger on the digital crown to close the circuit and stay still for 30 seconds to get a read so that's creating the same sort of connection between your left arm and your right arm but the results from the single lead EKG on the Apple watch which users can share as a PDF with their doctors gave dr. Marcus enough information to detect my early heartbeat and could help doctors reach a diagnosis sooner and so there's this hope that we might detect those people who did otherwise didn't know they had H or fibrillation and then treat them appropriately the flipside is that we recognize there's a risk of false positive results the Apple watch is the only direct to consumer device with a built-in EKG but there are other devices like the cardio band that let you take an EKG outside the doctor's office Apple watch competitors like Arman and Fitbit are also working to improve their heart rate monitoring as more tech companies focus on health care as a way to breathe new life into wearables I probably don't have afib but I would have never known about my early heartbeat without an EKG and now I might just have to pay another visit to dr. Marcus to get it checked out you you\n"