Irregular heartbeat and sleep stages

[Shiniie]

I have irregular heartbeat and I dont use my tracker to track it, but does it effect the sleep stages?

I get the basic sleep stages awake, restless and sleep. But I know that my tracker and app is updated and have the REM, deep and light sleep because my brother used it and it worked. But when I use it I only get the basic data.

I have tried all the settings and ways to use the tracker (loose, tight, moved it ip my arm and down my arm etc)

So, does my irregular heartbeat effect the sleep stage tracking so I dont get the REM, light and deep sleep?

[MarreFitbit]

Hey there @Shiniie, it's great to see you around! Thanks for trying some suggestions and tips to get sleep stages.

Well, Fitbit estimates your sleep stages using a combination of your movement and heart-rate patterns. When you haven’t moved for about an hour, your tracker assumes that you’re asleep. Additional data—such as the length of time your movements are indicative of sleep behavior (such as rolling over, etc.)—help confirm that you’re asleep. While you’re sleeping, your device tracks the beat-to-beat changes in your heart rate, known as heart rate variability (HRV), which fluctuate as you transition between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep stages. When you sync your tracker in the morning, we use your movement and heart rate patterns to estimate your sleep cycles from the previous night. 

One thing I recommend is switching your heart rate setting to 'On' instead of 'Auto.' If the heart rate setting is set to 'On' your heart rate will always be active. Keep in mind that you need to record heart rate to calculate sleep stages. If you were to turn off heart rate, your sleep logs will go back to the classic style.

In addition, I think it's great that you update the Fitbit app to the latest version (iOS and Android). I always recommend keeping both the tracker and the Fitbit app up to date with the latest versions. 

Also, please take a look at all the requirements for receiving sleeping stages in this post. 

Give this a go and let's see if you get your sleep stages this time! 

[Shiniie]

But if you have a medicial reason why your heart rate is irregular (like double beat) so you dont have 65 bpm, it can differ between 65 and 70 during the whole night. Can it effect the sleep stage tracking? Or do you need to have a BPM that is the same through the whole sleep?

[SHibble]

I also have an irregular heartbeat, and also don’t get a detailed sleep analysis.   My husband wore my Fitbit last night to test if he would get detailed sleep stages, and he indeed did.   So, i assume it’s out funky heart beats that throw the system off. 

[AleksanderSalte]

Sleep stages dont work on irregular heartbeats

[Docwriter]

I’m not sure the question was answered by your suggestions, although non moderators may have. Rephrasing, does an arrhythmia cause the monitor to revert to basic sleep recording from detailed recording? Additionally, does an arrhythmia during the day, esp one with long pauses after aberrant beats, cause the tracker to show no hr for a few minutes while that’s going on? Thanks!

[Docwriter]

@MarreFitbit...MarreFitbit - I’m not sure the question was answered by your suggestions, although non moderators may have. Rephrasing, does an arrhythmia cause the monitor to revert to basic sleep recording from detailed recording? Additionally, does an arrhythmia during the day, esp one with long pauses after aberrant beats, cause the tracker to show no hr for a few minutes while that’s going on? Thanks!

[Serrino42]

I suffer from atrial fibrilation, I tried to see what my sleep pattern was last night but just got the basic information. There was an answer given to Shinie that if they turned off the heartbeat monitor they should get the more in depth pattern showing rem and deep sleep. I am going to try that tonight to see what happens and will report what I get. Last night it showed awake 2 times, 21 times restless but I am more interested in the graph form. I know what my heart is doing most of the time as I have lived with this problem for 26 yrs so I don't need to see my heart rate.

[Docwriter]

Thank you so much. When it’s acting up, now I know what to do!

[BarbSpain]

Yep I think u are correct! I have tried everything suggested and nothing, however, my husband wore my Fitbit and it showed all stages!!!!!!!!

[BarbSpain]

same 4 me!