10-21-2015 06:45
10-21-2015 06:45
I've had my Fitbit HR since March now and I've been sick many times, and Very Consistenly I notice that my resting HR spikes up to "72" and stays there while I'm at the peak of sickness, and comes down when I'm well. Whatever formula they have seems to be extra magical in predicting the onset of viral illness because it starts to go up 2 days before I get any symptoms. Interestingly, the resting HR doesn't directly relate to overnight HR -- my overnight HR is "normally" 54-59, and when i'm sick and my resting HR is 72, my overnight HR is in the mid-to-high 60s. Most people's reactions to this is that the scale of change is insignificant (I'm a scientist / I get comments from other scientists), and I'd agree except that it's alarming precise and these noticeable spikes *only* happen when I'm sick. Anyone else noticing this magical prediction ability and mirroring of illness state??
03-28-2019 05:14
03-28-2019 05:14
My HR also went up two days before I got sick. Got a sore throat and stuffy nose. Went from 70 to 96, will let you all know if it goes down when I’m over my sickness
03-28-2019 05:39
03-28-2019 05:39
04-21-2020 06:53
04-21-2020 06:53
I get exactly the same! Currently I'm fighting something off and my resting heart rate is up to 70 when it's usually about 62. Same with overnight heart rate, normally its 52 - 54 but currently it only drops as low as 64 in sleep because I'm I'll. Very interesting! How long does it take for your resting heart rate to get back to normal after your illness?
04-21-2020 06:56
04-21-2020 06:56
Pretty much when you start to feel better. A week? Two weeks? Get well soon!
04-21-2020 07:16
04-21-2020 07:16
I have noticed a similar effect with stress and anxiety recently due to lockdown. I’m more relaxed now, and my HR is getting back to normal - about 1bpm every day or two.
04-21-2020 07:21
04-21-2020 07:21
04-21-2020 07:46
04-21-2020 07:46
This is an interesting question, and work has been done, for instance
https://www.wired.com/story/wearable-covid-19-symptoms-research/
A Google search on fitbit/covid/rhr brings up other studies.
04-24-2020 01:06
04-24-2020 01:06
Please let us know! Mine is still elevated and has been for over 2 weeks now!
04-24-2020 01:07
04-24-2020 01:07
Thank you! Over 2 weeks and counting! I don't even feel particularly Ill.
04-24-2020 01:08
04-24-2020 01:08
Glad it's getting back to normal.
04-24-2020 01:09
04-24-2020 01:09
Thank you!
11-04-2020 01:03
11-04-2020 01:03
Really interesting and I’ve read similar including a study using Fitbit data and flu/viral illness. I suffer from some kind of post-viral illness and find quite the opposite. My REsting Rate reduces massively when I am most ill and experiencing flu like symptoms. Like you I’m a scientist so not claiming significance on a single case study. There’s definitely signs of something going on though.
11-04-2020 04:18
11-04-2020 04:18
Interesting - I wonder what’s going on there. I guess the illness has somehow disrupted your normal metabolism.
Earlier this year I found an immensely strong correlation between stress level and increased resting heart rate. I also slept badly and lost some weight. As the stress reduced, I felt much better, but it still took a long while for my RHR to settle back to normal.
So the stress of being ill may be a contributor to elevated heart rate.
12-24-2023 11:03
12-24-2023 11:03
Yes, I’ve been noticing this as well. My spikes with annual or semiannual viral infections (due to congested city with crowded commutes) are also 72, but last year, I also got hit by a bout of bacterial infection that spiked my RHR up to 84 until I took antibiotics. It took four months to get back down to mid 60s.