Early Warning & SOS Alerts for Heart Attacks (or other health issues)

[Desh]

Research indicates (refer to links below) that it is possible to detect potential Heart Attack based on Heart Rate and Heart Rate zones. Fitbit watches constantly monitor heart rate and theoretically it should be possible to detect potential heart attack based on abnormal heart rate and resting heart rate's trend.

1. Emergency SOS: Fitbit device should trigger alert on paired mobile phone which sends out a SOS message along with geo-location to pre-configured address to ensure timely medical assistance.
2. Preventive Alert: Fitbit should alert the user if it sense potential Heart Attack based on current & resting heart rate patterns or change to a different heart rate zone.

Reference:

• Warning Signs of Heart Failure
• Resting Heart Rate in Cardiovascular Disease

Moderator Edit: Added Labels

[Jvines0215]

What an awesome idea! I would love this feature on my fitbit!

[pointekcm8907]

I absolutely vote for this idea and think it would be an outstanding addition to the Fitbit. It could possibly save hundreds and give them a second chance at life.

[DavidPW]

Wouldn't work unless a phone was continuously synced to FitBit, would it - I link up only once a day, not being the type to have my iPhone with me at all times. However, good for the postmortem investigation, as described. Any company offering to contact EMS if any cardiac anomaly is detected had better have good liability insurance in case it doesn't detect what it is supposed to detect and the wearer dies.

[swiftycarson]

This is true . Im sure a liability agreement would have to be accepted before the service began. but I think my suggestion of contacting a emergency contact of some sort would probably be a better idea. Or sending an alert to the phone basically inquiring if the person can respond or not... or even a phone call. Just like a alarm company does.. if no one answers then they send out ems. Also, though the Fitbit does not continuously sync it does indeed track the heart rate continuously which is shown on a graph on the Fitbit each minute to hour. We have a graph of the exact minute my dads heart rate increased, then dropped down to 0. Good thinking though.


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[DavidPW]

Your Fitbit cannot contact anything except the smartphones or computers it has been paired with on Bluetooth, and if they are all out of Bluetooth range, which usually does not even extend into the next room, it cannot send a message to anybody. FitBit does not communicate with cellphone towers, or even with a WiFi hotspot should one be close, because it can only communicate via Bluetooth. No alarm signals can be sent unless a smartphone or a computer are within Bluetooth range of the FitBit. Also, cardiac anomalies show up as a disturbance of the electrical signals that cause the heart muscles to contract. FitBit does not monitor those signals, as electrodes would have to be attached to the skin to obtain them. FitBit monitors heart rate by following the colour changes in the capillary blood vessels, which follow a rather smooth curve from beat to beat, quite unlike the electrical signals monitored for an electrocardiogram (ECG), which show a very sharp peak at each heartbeat. Only by analysing the colour changes over many cycles can an accurate estimate of pulse rate be achieved, probably by some kind of Fourier analysis that can identify the main frequency. Probably only the absence of a pulse could be used to trigger an alarm, and in most cases that would be due to a loose-fitting Fitbit, which would thus generate too many false alarms in practice.

[swiftycarson]

I understand what you’re saying which are all good points. I’m sure it won’t be easy... my thing is we have an owlet... that literally goes over my baby’s foot and notifies me when an alarm occurs.... even if I am at work and he is home (I couldn’t tell you how exactly it does it I just know it does) . I know if it’s possible for babies it’s possible to do something similar for adults. The blinking red light that monitors our heart rate on fit bits is the exact thing that is on my sons owlet monitor so I know the foundation has similarities if that makes sense. I do agree though that all your points need to be evaluated!

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[amelia2017]

sorry for your loss 😞 ! hopefully fitbit will look into your suggestion! 

[Kael]

First, sorry for your loss.

Second, DavidPW is bringing up some good technical hurdles with regards to the Fitbit product line. Owlet uses Pulse Oximetry, it's a dual sensor setup - one for HR and one for oxygen level (spO2). The only Fitbit device with the spO2 sensor is the newest, the Ionic.

From a technological standpoint (device capability), only this device would be capable of such a feat (in certain scenarios). The others with the basic optical HR are too basic in nature.

There was a company designing a product for this exact proposition using these sensors (optical HR + spO2) back in 2013. Don't know what happened to them, look up: Oxitone watch.

[swiftycarson]

Hmm interesting ! Yeah I figured it wouldn’t be able to be done to existing Fitbit’s... if anything it would have to be new devices , even new devices going forward. Thanks for sharing I’ll check them out !

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[donnie_a]

So sorry for your loss, Swifty. I certainly hope something along the lines of your suggestion can be implemented.

[LizFitbit]

Hi @swiftycarson I'm sorry to hear of your loss and send my best wishes to you and your family. I see your suggestion has garnered some community support already. Fitbit’s goal in participating is to help create an inclusive and efficient regulatory path for software as a medical device, so thanks for sharing this suggestion.

[JamieG1973]

This is something that would be very useful for anyone who is training regularly and/or recovering from anything.

[00Kell]

I have CFS/ME (which limits my activity) and use my Fitbit HR to monitor my activity levels. A lot of people with CFS/ME use heart rate monitors to stop them over exerting themselves and damaging their health further. Could you please consider adding a heart rate alarm to the app? I would love to be alerted automatically when my heart rate gets too high.  If my Fitbit could be made to vibrate as well then that would be a big bonus but having the alarm in the app would, at least, be a great start.
CFS/ME affects 250,000 Americans alone and heart rate monitoring is a growing trend amongst the community as it's effectiveness is passed on by word of mouth.  This is a significant number of potential customers!  Also, most of the people I know who have a Fitbit have CFS/ME so not only will adding this feature benefit a lot of current customers, they will be more likely to recommend Fitbit to others simply because of this one feature.

[OldGrandad]

Thank you for supporting my request.As yet there has been no response from the company itself, but there have been several suprters.You would think that the company would respond.Again thank you 


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[Maddyaddy]

  This is an awesome idea. With all the technology out there, you would think someone would develop an alert on our Fitbit's. Exercise, get your steps in, get your heart rate going, is all you hear. But? What if you push to hard? What if your heart is out of rhythm? What if your over heated and heart goes out? What if your having a heart attack? This way hopefully my Fitbit would alert me maybe save my life. Just to make a phone call and get checked, It's just an alert... The older generation would certainly be interested in new Fitbit even if it cost's a little more to save our lives..  I also think suggestions should be looked at to payable to who thought of the idea. 

[TCSA]

If Fitbit is marketed as a device for those interested in their health, though it is not an accurate medical device, why have notifications for calls and texts but not if your heart is over or under target rates.  Seems this request has been submitted to Fitbit years ago but as of yet not implemented.  Some consumers who need to monitor would benefit from such programming.  Is Fitbit ignoring the request fearing liability issues?

[Notesofiuli]

I'm sorry for your loss.I also thought of this earlier in the week.I think Fitbit adding this feature would be amazing, it would save lives.Fitbit is a health monitoring brand why not add another feature that could possibly save thousands of lives.I hope they take it into consideration. 

[AutumnMoonfire]

I'm sorry for your loss. 

[Maddyaddy]

Yes, My brother passed in August with Fitbit on and I'm not saying in anyway if this feature should happen to be put on, that Fitbit be reliable if something should happen. It's just a precaution that hopefully that person can get help in time. I have one and when I'm doing yard word or walking and feel my rate I stop now to check. I'm 56 he was 57 so now I'm extra cautious.

[swiftycarson]

That’s an awesome idea!

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[spidercat]

How about a health and wellness tracker that can monitor a soldier's health while in the field.  If pulse rate goes critically low, medics could be notified.   There will be the issue of maintaining radio silence as required. 

[Gaylei]

This idea sounds wonderful- but I’m pretty sure it’s currently in the too hard box! Lots of parameters to deal with and think about plus a whole load of red tape! 

I am voting though! 

[concernmom]

Before I purchased the fitbit, I was told by my son's headmaster that there's a heart rate warning.  That was the reason I purchased it yesterday.  As I search for how to set it, I can't find a solution for this.  Our son has autism spectrum disorder.  The heart rate warning will allow him to be aware of his anxiety, so he can start doing his calming exercises before it gets out of hand.  Please let me know if there's a way to set it.  Thank you

[Ammars27]

But will fit bit listen to its customers and develop this ?