Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification & EKG Results

[TamRootbeer]

I am recovering from AFib ablation. I use the EKG app on my Fitbit Charge 5.

Sometimes EKG says that I show signs of AFib/ irregular heart beat.

But the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification NEVER has anything to say about it. The app says it's checked/analyzed data but it never finds anything.

If I am getting irregular heart beat/signs of AFib on EKG, shouldn't the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification show it and alert me? I also never got AFib alerts when I was definitely in AFib prior to my ablation.

My Charge 5 is up to date and my Pixel 3 Google/Android phone is up to date. The Fitbit app is up to date.

I am in the USA (going between NY & FL).

Any info about how these apps may or may not work together is appreciated.

Thanks.

[JohnnyRow]

Here is info on irregular heart rate notifications How do Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications check for atrial fibrillation (AFib)? 

and here for the ECG app  What is the Fitbit ECG app?  

I'm certainly not a medical professional.

As you can read in above help sections, they do use totally different detection methods:  ECG is an on-demand test of electrical heart signals; whereas irregular heart rhythm notifications looks at blood flow at wrist over time, but only when you are at rest for extended period of time.  So note irregular rhythm detection is not active when you are active, as I understand it.

I suppose you could have brief episodes of aFib recognized by ECG that are not present during the extended rest periods, such as sleep, when the irregular heart rhythm detections are active.  Beyond that possibility, I am not qualified to speculate.

I hope your aFib detections/episodes lessen and go away, as I have heard it can take a while for the ablation to take full effect.

[TamRootbeer]

That all makes sense. I appreciate you delving deeper into the question.

I wonder if anyone with persistent AFib has had their device detect it in
the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications.

Thanks in advance to anyone with further insight.
TamRootbeer

[rudy1234]

I came on here to post this exact same question. The whole reason I got a Fitbit Charge 5 is for the heart monitoring features, per recommendation from my cardiologist.

Over a period of about 10 hours (before bed and in the morning) I had multiple ECG readings that said I was experiencing AFib, but I never got a notification. This made me wonder if I've had other AFib that went undetected, which is concerning. 

I called customer service and they suggested I check my notification settings. My notifications were all turned on properly so it wasn't that. I'm also in the USA.

What the person above said may possibly explain it, but the thing is that I was at rest each time the ECG came back with AFib. I was awake, but resting on the couch or in bed and had been for some time. 

Any other possible explanation? Or does resting awake in bed not count as rest per the feature? Is it really only when you're asleep?

Also, this is total speculation but since I had AFib before bed and after waking I do wonder if it happened overnight too, but we can never know I guess.

It would be great for someone from the company to weigh in.

Thanks!

[TamRootbeer]

@JohnnyRow & @rudy1234 

Checking back...I guess the issue is:

• We need to know the definition of "still".
• What does it mean to be "still"?
• How long does one need to be "still"?

I can tell you that there were definitely times I was still - my definition: 10 - 20 minutes resting in bed or on couch - for a while to calm my AFib and I still never got a notification.

@rudy1234 - I want to mention that not all the times the EKG notes as AFib are actually AFib. The wording on the report is "shows signs" of AFib.

It seems that the monitoring process is super sensitive...if you were talking, moved your body too much, looked around too much, coughed or sneezed, etc. it can produce an AFib report. It happens to me also when watching TV, like an action movie or something suspenseful which makes the heart rate increase so I go in a room by myself and relax before doing the reading. (My electrophysiologist dismissed many of the printed results I brought him because they started out weird, but resolved by the end of the 30 seconds. I think it was because I was still getting seated properly at the beginning.)

I still have not gotten a irregular heart rate notification ever. If anyone here has EVER GOTTEN the notification, I'd be interested to know. 

Cheers,

TamRootbeer

[charleskn]

Just to be certain, did you explicitly turn on the irregular rhythm notifications? I don't have persistent Afib, but the few episodes I've had, I have gotten notifications usually overnight).

[TamRootbeer]

Yes. It is definitely turned on...see screenshot. I actually check it periodically to make sure. LOL 

My AFib was paroxysmal (only triggered/random incidences), but I must have had at least one since April that could have been during sleep or when I was "still".  I often sat or lay down to calm an episode.

Again...what exactly is "still"? I would just like a definition.

Has anyone ever gotten a notification while they were awake and "still"?

Thanks,

TamRootbeer 

[TamRootbeer]

I messaged support on Twitter (they have helped via that platform before). Will let you know what they say.

Also...hello Fitbit moderator...I accidentally reported the initial post because the screen "jumped" when I was trying to get the Permalink. 

Mea culpa maxima.

TamRootbeer

[Neeny1]

My Fitbit charge five detected atrial fib on me and notified me

[LZeeW]

Hello @Neeny1 and welcome to the Community.  Fitbit's Help article says that you should discuss this with your doctor.  This same information is in the Frequently Asked Questions in the Irregular Rhythm Notifications.