Apple Watch Saves 65-Year-Old Man By Alerting Him Of Irregular Heartbeat
More than just for telling time.
By Syazwan Bahri — 16 Feb 2024, 04:14 PM
Jeff Priest, 65, from South Carolina, was enjoying his evening when his Apple Watch flashed an alert, indicating he had developed an unexpected heart condition known as atrial fibrillation
Given his absence of prior health issues and familial medical history, he thought the watch was faulty.
However, his wife, Ellen, took the warning seriously. Upon reviewing the alerts sent by the watch earlier in the day, she realised the seriousness of the situation. After a brief virtual consultation with a doctor, it became evident that Priest required immediate attention in the emergency room.
The alert from his watch was accurate — Priest was indeed experiencing atrial fibrillation
Fortunately, Priest managed to avoid any further health complications, but the incident left him and his wife with a newfound appreciation for technology. They later shared their experience with Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook.
While Apple doesn't disclose specific figures, they reported in an October update that alerts from their watch frequently prompt individuals to seek medical treatment.
Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heart rhythm where the heart's upper chambers beat out of sync with the lower chambers
While atrial fibrillation is typically not considered life-threatening, many individuals manage to lead normal, healthy lives despite having this condition. However, it can be uncomfortable and often requires medical intervention. It's important to note that atrial fibrillation elevates the risk of experiencing a transient ischaemic attack or stroke by approximately four to five times.
"Users write to us nearly every day sharing how our devices are helping them learn more about their health," said Apple chief operating officer, Jeff Williams.
"Our vision for the future is to continue to create science-based technology that equips people with even more information and acts as an intelligent guardian for their health, so they're no longer passengers on their health journey," he added.
This feature is available on Malaysian models of the Apple Watch
If you have an Apple Watch 4 onwards, all you need to do is ensure your iPhone and Apple Watch are running iOS 14.6 and watchOS 7.5 onwards. Make sure to wear the watch for at least 12 hours per day so that the watch can establish a baseline and track any irregularities.
The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care.
