Smartwatches measure the pulse reliably enough to report abnormalities. However, many false alarms are not caused by “bad technology”, but rather by incorrect settings and a lack of basic knowledge.
Cardiologists reportthat many young people are now coming to the practice because their Smart watch has sounded an alarm. Often there is no acute illness behind it, but rather uncertainty caused by a report that, without context, seems more dramatic than it is. That’s exactly why it’s worth doing a quick technology check before you go crazy.
Smartwatch warnings hit many people at night or early in the morning, exactly when the body is shutting down. Anyone who sees a message like “Pulse too low” quickly thinks there is a problem, even though a normal resting value was often measured. In addition, many watches do not report “sick”, but only “outside your set threshold” – and for some users this is too strict.
Low heart rate while sleeping leads to insecurities among users
A low heart rate is often normal at night. When you sleep, your body shuts down and your heart rate drops accordingly in many people. This confirms, among other things, the Pharmacy look aroundshe classifies a slower pulse during sleep as basically to be expected as long as there are no symptoms.
It becomes problematic when warnings are read like a diagnosis. Young people in particular often do not know that in many models the watch does not evaluate “sleep” but rather “inactivity”. Garmin writes this in the manual very clear: The alarm only comes if the heart rate falls above or below a self-selected value after a period of inactivity. And: The function is not intended for diagnosis.
At Apple The logic is similar: notifications for high and low heart rates can be activated, the thresholds are set yourself. If the lower limit is set too high, a normal sleep pulse is enough to trigger a warning.
Reading smartwatch data correctly: three tips
First check the manual and settings, then think about the doctor’s office: Sounds banal, but it saves a lot of unnecessary appointments. Just “When is the warning given?” and “What is the function for?” Manufacturers usually state this explicitly.
Align threshold values with your own everyday life: If you are sporty or generally have a low resting heart rate, you should not set the warning threshold based on feeling. According to Pharmacy Umschau, a low pulse rate is harmless for many people. Things become more critical when symptoms arise, such as dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath or chest pain.
The following applies to rhythm warnings: Have it checked, don’t panic. Many smartwatches work with optical heart rate measurement. It can detect abnormalities, but cannot explain them with certainty. The DGK platform herzmedizin.de emphasizes that an ECG is usually necessary for a true diagnosis.
Conclusion: The watch is not “to blame”, it provides data. The risk arises when warning messages are interpreted as findings without context. Anyone who takes the instructions in the manual seriously, sets threshold values appropriately and uses alarms as an opportunity to classify instead of creating an alarm mood will remain much more relaxed.
About the Author
