how come the fitbit can register your sleep pattern but not pulse or bp

[4myself]

Why can the fitbit register your sleep pattern which is based on your pulse rate i am assuming BUT it won't give you a pulse or a bp?  I would much rather know my pulse and bp then whether or not i am sleeping well?  We have 3 kids i know i don't sleep it comes with the territory.  anyone who can answer me, i would be greatful.  I know they have bands that do that but i don't want to have to wear two seperate bands to get all the info i want i would much rather have just one for everything.

[betpchem]

I don't think sleep is based on your pulse, I think it is based on your movement. If you move over a certain threshold, that's restless sleep. I don't know if awake is a lot of movement (over another threshold) or if it senses you have stood up, maybe both. But I don't think the fitbit has the capability to measure heart rate or pulse. 

[Colinm39]

@4myselfWhen you have set the sleep timer and after you turn it off Fitbit applies movement filters for the type of movement it has detected. It cannot detect pulse.

[trainer]

Colin has explained this well. I would like to add I completely understand why fitbit isn't pulse based and I am very leery of products that say they can use your pulse. So many things interfere with getting a pulse, movement, sweat, how tightly the product contacts your skin, etc. At the same time I started using my fitibit I bought a 'pulse reading' watch. If I push the watch against my wrist and touch the bezel in two places I create a contact that reads my pulse. IF I am completely still and IF I am not very sweaty then I get a fairly accurate reading. If I am moving AT ALL or if I am very sweaty the reading varies wildly. This watch was not cheap. It tells time accurately...

[gerrymcd]

The sleep function is simply monitoring your movement during the night.  Moving around during the night is equated with being restless and awake and not in a deep sleep.  To get your heartrate you would need a band - ideally a chest band - that measures your pulse.   To get that kind of capability requires a lot more battery power, so you'd endup needing to wear a bulky watch sized device.  The devices available with this capability are a lot more expensive, and they rely on a wrist heart monitor.  These require the strap to be tighter than most people wear a regular watch, plus the reading is prone to error due to movement, moisture, etc.  To add bp you would also need to wear some kind of cuff.   All in all it would be uncomfortable and probably not that useful given the innacuracy in the readings.  Perhaps in years to come all of this stuff can be miniturized, but not in the short term.