Charge 5 Irregular rhythm not working

[UnfitFay]

I've had my Charge 5 for a year now and it won't track or report irregular rhythm heartbeat. I'm not sure if anyone else has this issue but, I definitely think if this feature is offered, then it should work. There have been days when I could feel my heartbeat off but my device doesn't acknowledge it. 

[RiekoC]

Hello & welcome @UnfitFay 

Sorry to see that you're having issues with the irregular rhythm notifications.

I just want to confirm that you set up your Charge 5 to provide AFib notifications. Also, you might find it helpful to understand how Fitbit devices detect and provide AFib notifications. Click here for instructions on how to set up irregular rhythm notifications and how it works: How do Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications check for AFib? 

[UnfitFay]

Yes, I'm well aware of how to set it up, which I've done a while back. The point is that it doesn't track my irregular heartbeats. I take my health seriously and this watch seems to be quite unreliable for things this important. At best it's good for reminders, exercise and keeping the time. 

[RiekoC]

Hi @UnfitFay 

Thanks for confirming that you set up the notifications.

The next time you feel that your heart rate is off, you might want to use the ECG app on your Charge 5 to confirm your suspicions. If the ECG detects irregular rhythm, it makes sense to me that you should also see a notification in the Fitbit app. 

[ScoutinLondon]

I have the same issue. I have diagnosed tachycardia arrhythmias & I’ve found that in my sleep I’ve been having peak bpm at 177!!!! And yet nothing is clocked in the aFIB notifications. It’s been years & never had a notification!!! This is extremely worrying!! I bought it for this. 

[ScoutinLondon]

May I just add that the advice from Fitbit is ludicrous !!! 4 mins is all it takes to die from tachycardia arrhythmias. How on earth is running an ecg going to help especially when I don’t even know I’m having them!! The notifications should work!

[ScoutinLondon]

correction that advice was from a user 

[RiekoC]

Hello @UnfitFay & @ScoutinLondon 

I came across additional information about Fitbit's ECG app & Irregular Rhythm notifications from the What is the Fitbit ECG app page that you might find helpful:

What’s the difference between the Fitbit ECG app and Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications?

The Fitbit ECG app uses electrical sensors on the back of your compatible Fitbit wrist-worn product and on the metal frame around its face (Fitbit Charge 5, Fitbit Sense, and Fitbit Sense 2) or crown (Google Pixel Watch) to allow you to record the electrical signals from your heartbeat during a 30-second reading. The Fitbit ECG app is qualitatively similar to a Lead I ECG in that it can be used to discriminate between AFib and normal sinus rhythm. The Fitbit ECG app analyzes the recording and presents the results on your watch or tracker.

Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications collects pulse rate data in the background when you’re still or at rest by analyzing beat-to-beat measurements. It uses the optical pulse-rate sensor on your compatible wrist-worn product to identify heart rhythm changes. If multiple readings show an irregular pulse rate that may be AFib, you receive a notification. Data isn’t analyzed in real-time.

Unfortunately, I didn't see any reference to how many readings are needed to trigger an Irregular Rhythm notification. It may be that your device did not record enough irregular pulse rate readings to trigger the notification. 

It's also important to understand that the data is not analyzed in real-time. To your point @ScoutinLondon , you may need a different device - one that does analyze the data in real-time. See excerpt below from How does Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications Check for AFib  page: 

Can I still use Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications if I have been previously diagnosed with AFib?

No. Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications isn’t intended for use in individuals previously diagnosed with AFib.

You might not receive a notification for every episode of irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib if sufficient data isn’t available. The absence of a notification doesn’t mean you don’t have AFib. For this reason, the feature shouldn’t be used as a monitoring tool. Please talk to your doctor if you’re looking to monitor your previously diagnosed AFib.

[ScoutinLondon]

thank you for this! I did find that it requires 1 minute solid of recording abnormal spikes which isn’t very useful for me as most “events “ are under that. My cardiologist is putting a permanent recorder under my skin as my 2 sisters died suddenly aged 26, 27 from arrhythmic cardiomyopathy. One had absolutely no indications in her life prior to dying after swimming at rest. Yes the Fitbit is not a good heart monitor at all. Thanks for your input!! It’s good that people are aware of this. 

[ScoutinLondon]

Correction: the heart monitor may be reliable, I’m yet to know. It will be very interesting once I have the monitor put under my skin and compare it to the Fitbit are saying.be very interesting once I have the monitor put under my skin and compare it to the Fitbit are saying.Is the heart oh fab notifications it’s the Fitbit aFIB notifications that cannot be relied on. I’m just curious, has anyone ever had a notification? I would really love to know.