Heart rate zones alert feature

[kingtut1975]

 Many fitness enthusiasts and individuals of whom base their workouts on target heart rate zones would really appreciate a heart rate alert feature implemented into the new Fitbit Ionic as well -if possible ALL Fitbit watches. This feature would allow a Fitbit user to manually set their Fitbit watch to alert the user once their targeted maximum and minimum heart rate has been achieved while performing a workout. Â The watch would vibrate on the user's wrist alerting the user when their selected heart rate has been accomplished or met allowing the user to more cater their workouts to stay within a selected threshold. Â Implementing this feature will also serve well as a safety feature which can alert the user when their calculated heartrate is dangerously high or above the maximum threshold that they set enabling the user to adjust their workout accordingly. Â Some Fitbit users I can imagine and many other individuals have cardiovascular/heart related issues which prevent them engaging in a workout that is too intense therefore a heart rate alert feature implemented into the new Fitbit Ionic would make the watch more marketable to the present customer base, a broader audience of fitness enthusiasts, and desirable to a whole new market of individuals of whom have cardiovascular/heart issues and will really appreciate a heartrate alert feature implemented into their fitness/activity trackers. Overall, implementing this feature will likely increase popularity of the watch, increase revenue, and appeal to a wider range of individuals that are taking steps to improve their health through daily workouts but are limited to what they can do due to cardiovascular/heart concerns. Â Implementing this feature can likely be as simple as have software engineering add it to a software/firmware update which will allow it to perform identical to the silent/vibrating alarm feature already included in most Fitbit watches anyhow.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity, format & labels.

[JessopY]

It would be very beneficial to be able to set alarms for low or high heart rate zones. Tapping the watch face every 30 seconds while running, biking, kayaking or whatever gets really old but I have a tendency to over do it. Please add this feature.

[barkinspider]

I bought the fitbit because I need to track my heart rate because I have chronic fatigue syndrome and need to do heart rate pacing. This means that I need to track my maximum heart rate (a custom number because for CFS patients it's 60% of normal ppl's hr), I need to get a notification via beep or vibrate that I have to stop whatever I'm doing.

This is a very basic feature and I'm very disappointed that I've wasted my time purchasing the  fitbit charge2. Will be returning the fitbit.

[Specky]

Hard exercise, such as a sprint to exhaustion, repeated several times, barely moves my heart rate. I don't even get into cardio. Yet when I review my previous day's heart rate, I find sometimes it's been at the top end of cardio whilst I've been sitting on the sofa. So this feature would be great because if I hit cardio whilst sitting on the sofa, an alarm would enable me to validate the measurement and understand why it is occuring. It could be atrial fibrillation, for example.

[andepras]

From couple of days suddenly I am seeing raise in my resting heart rate for just seconds from 70's to 150+ bpm. I am shocked to see this as my resting heart rate. For fitbit Blaze, I was searching for the option to place alarm on my heart rate, so that I understand when my resting heart rate is getting increased beyond normal. I did not find any options in the settings and finally landed on this page. Please provide us with this option to track better health.  

[Bamit99]

+1 for this feature. I have even read that this feature saved a life few months back, obviously a different brand there but would love to see the same in fitbit. 

[SunsetRunner]

It is time for me to upgrade my watch, and the heart rate zone cue is the decking factor. I’d prefer to stay with Fitbit. Please add this feature. 

[Jlhrstv]

Elevated Heart Rate alerts similar to what Apple does would be great.  I would rather use a Fitbit; however, this feature keeps me wearing my apple watch.

[marc911]

Hi Fitbit, when will you include a Heart Rate Alert in Charge 2 ?

As soon as the watch detecs your heart reaching a max (170 for example), the watch vibrates.

Easy.

What's so difficult to implement this feature ?

What are you waiting for ?

Thanks

[Zeebald]

The system Fitbit uses to measure heart rate is not accurate enough to make an HR alert worthwhile. I've used a Fitbit charge in conjunction with a medically approved Pulse/oxy meter and there is frequently a 10 - 30% difference. A senior cardiology consultant at Londons RFH told me that Fitbit have avoided submitting any Fitbits for approval for medical use because they don't want the inaccuracies more widely known.

[TheThib]

I purchased a Fitbit Charge2 specifically for the heart rate feature as I am sure that the majority of owners did. You would think that if you have a product with a feature that is not available on a lot of your other devices that you would have the corresponding app highlight the feature.

I cycle with my phone attached to my handle bar. It would be nice to be able to glance down and see my current bpm on my screen. While I’ll admit that it is there, it is not one of the highlighted options to display in Large format. Steps, stairs, calories are available but is real-time reporting of those stats more crucial than busting past your hr zones? It would even be nicer to have an audible beep notification that would sound over headphones attached to the phone that is paired with the Charge 2.

I appreciate the technology that went into the heart rate sensor and I am even willing to accept some inaccuracies in the hr reporting as long as it is somewhat consistent and allows me to perform my own calibration in setting my zones. I think that the developers of the app severely missed the whole attraction of this device to the end user. The app should be made to really make the hr data shine, even going as far as a full screen reading of the hr so that it can be seen from afar or without reading glasses. Ironically there is an option to expand a graph of weekly resting hr and other historical data. 

Sure there are those people that say the heart rate zones are not accurate or that they are not that important. I understand there approach but I have my my reasons for wanting to know my heart rate and therefore shelled out the extra money to supposedly have that ability when purchasing this product.

I am sort of passionate about this instant hr reading on the dashboard ever since using a Polar hr watch/chest strap. It was like having the dashboard of a car. I would cycle on flat terrain and I would keep my cycling cadence at a set rpm and maintained a fairly consistent hr. If all remained the same but noticed an increase in my hr, I knew that my body was in need of hydration. After drinking water my hr would return to the previous rate. I thought that such ability to read physical data and then address any issues was pretty cool. If I cycled or exercised more regularly, I would probably not depend on such a device as I would be able to better read my body. But if I purchase something for the hype that it was marketed with, I would expect a better experience.

[BobMc]

I purchased a new iWatch with a Kardia Watch band & install Active Cor app on my watch & iPhone because I had experienced A fib incidents. Gave my Fitbit Blaze to my granddaughter because it doesn’t have a cardio alert feature.
This iWatch and iWatch band allows me to send an EKG to Active Cor and my cardiologist if the Active Cor math model indicates I might be have A fib.
I had an incident in the last month, I didn’t feel quite right, sent EKG to Active Cor - result was it was “possible A fib”. I went immediately to ER I mentioned to ER cardiologist the my plan for the day was to go biking for a few hours.
Cardiologist told me that it might have been fatal based upon my heart rate. I don’t need to say any more than that.
Bob McGowan




Sent from my iPhone

[2tiredDAD]

As previously indicated, a VERY useful, almost necessary feature for those with ME/CFS to help prevent us from over exerting ourselves. This would actually be my main reason for making such a purchase and if it requires that I spend three times as much to have this feature from one of your competitors over any of your devices without this feature, then so be it. That’s what I will do - too bad you. 

[GaelP]

This would be a great feature on my Charge 2. It's difficult to target my workout accurately if I have to keep looking at the watch to make sure I'm in the right HR zone. 

[SpeedUSAF]

I just bought a Charge 2 based on recommendations from friends.  VERY DISAPPOINTED.  I have ME/CFS and need an alarm to warn me when my heart rate is going too high...

I think this is going back and I'll buy a Garmin (which I hate to do...but, you FITBIT people clearly don't care about your customers!!!

[Lady_J_]

You should consider an apple watch. They have an app that would be perfect
for you.

[SpeedUSAF]

Thanks! Problem is that I’m restricted from wearing Apple and other smart watches where I work. Still may get one for when I’m not working. Cheers!

[AdamAP]

I didn't realize that there is no heart rate warnings when I bought my Charge 2.  It seems like an easy addition to the product.  I'll be returning mine.

[HundoHopper]

I agree with everyone else! If we could be alerted with a notification, sound, and vibration when a user reaches their set LOWEST BPM and HIGHEST. Maybe even a way to show blood pressure. I have had cancer for 10 years, hypertension, rapid heart rate and tachycardia. I have had to fight my heart to keep a steady rhythm. When my BBM either bottoms out or reaches a Max I have been instructed to go directly to the emergency room. I know there are a lot of people in this world that could use that extremely bad. Beyond the users it would draw more attention to the products (Advertisement)

[SunsetRunner]

If the fitbit had the heart rate notification I would definitely consider purchasing one as I am still looking for an app/device to replace the Adidas Train app which I really liked as you could set programmes on the app using the Heart rate zones and then when out it would tell you when you had achieved the correct zone and when to change zones for the next effort for example if doing an interval session or even just warm up / main run / cool down.

[zuzkaska]

It would be great to be able to set the min. and max. heart rate. Please FITBIT team - consinder to add this option to settings. It is really important for people with heart disease. Thanks a lot in advance!!!

[DragonflyShimmr]

I agree! I'm one of those people who have had heart issues in the past and am a little afraid to exercise too hard and so I tend to be under my target HR for fear of stressing my heart too much. This would be an extremely helpful feature for me and save the battery so I am not constantly checking my HR 🙂

[SunsetRunner]

Fitbit - this seems to be an old post/comments yet has 4,400 likes - why have you stalled on your end?

[Elles1]

Totally agree with this idea of having watch vibrate when in/out of zones. Also zones need be 1-5/6 with heart rate being more detailed to see results for each zone. Heart rate is such an important aspect when training from beginners to elite athletes. 

[RetoW]

I am new to Firbit and shocked to see that such a basic feature is missing and has almost 4’500 votes since 2014!!!

[Zeebald]

Sorry but it's naive to think that fitbits HR readings are accurate enough
to assist your training. I've compared mine to a medically approved pulse
oxymeter and the difference is considerable +/- 30%