ECG and Right Branch Bundle Block

[jutah74]

Hello, 

I purchased a Charge 5 and was wondering if a Right Branch Bundle Block (RBBB) could trigger an irregular heartbeat or Afib reading. 

Thank you

[samkajo]

Hi

I would suggest that in light of the fact that a lot of Fitbit devices have major issues even accurately recording a normal heart rate you should not rely on them or their readings for such critical parameters. Im no expert when it comes to these technological devices but as an ex cardiology/intensive care nurse there is no substitute for proper measurements made by actual medical devices operated by trained professionals specifically designed for the sole purpose of measuring such parameters. Again I am not an expert on Fitbit devices but it could be entirely possible that your RBBB is causing issues with charge 5 being able to recognise your heart rhythm thus triggering false readings. In example today I spent about 10 minutes making some apple puree from stewed apples pressing it through a sieve with a wooden spoon and I got multiple notifications for high heart rate and awarded a stupid number of steps as well as hitting peak cardiac zone for 7 of those minutes and having it set up as being on my dominant wrist. ( if you want to reach your goals the lazy way just shake your arm back and forth whilst slouched on the couch...lol)  So if you are at all concerned or feel unwell please seek advice from your GP or medical practitioner please don't rely on these frankly hugely unreliable devices for such critical information. I do appreciate that you may have just been asking out of curiosity but I felt it important to highlight the shortcomings of all of these modern fitness trackers so other users are aware

Kindest Regards

[jutah74]

Thank you for the response! I was diagnosed in my teens decades ago and was told it was nothing to worry about however, I wanted to see if this would throw off the heart rate monitor at all. I've had fitbits in the past but they never had the ECG monitor - just HR monitor.   

Thanks again!

[LZeeW]

Hello @jutah74 and welcome to the Help forum.  I want to start by saying that I am not a Fitbit employee, so this is not an "official" Fitbit response.  But my background is physiology and I am familiar with the ECG on the Sense.

First, the ECG isn't "on" all of the time.  An irregular heart rate doesn't trigger it.  You sit and activate the feature at rest.  The ECG is interpreted as Normal, A-fib, or Inconclusive.  I suspect your readings will be Inconclusive.  Fitbit Help article   Second, Fitbit measures your heart rate by looking for pulsations in very tiny blood vessels under the skin.  Fitbit Help article   Every brand of fitness tracker that uses this method has accuracy limitations.  But I don't think that you will have any particular problem.  The device is looking for pulsations.

@samkajo   I completely agree with you about incorrect measurements while doing things like cooking.  My hair stylist gave up on her fitness tracker.  Fitness trackers aren't scientific grade devices.