Arabella Asis Tech 02.12.2024 22:Feb PM EST

Apple Watch Detects Silent Heart Condition, Helps Couple Seek Immediate Treatment

Apple Watch helped a couple seek immediate medical attention after the smartwatch alerted them of the silent heart condition.

Atrial fibrillation detection has been a feature of Apple Watch for several years and customers have been benefitting from its service since then.

Summerville Couple Thanks Apple Watch Health Alert

In a story published by The Post and Courier, Jeff Priest recalled sitting on the couch when his Apple Watch notified him of a sudden heart condition called atrial fibrillation. Before the alert, he had no family history of any heart diseases and claimed to be perfectly fit.

"I thought there was something wrong with the watch," Priest stated. He also shared that he was not feeling any symptoms and felt normal at the time.

Fortunately, his spouse took the alert seriously and tracked the smartwatch's health log. The couple then had a virtual health call with a doctor and got the confirmation that Priest should go to the emergency room, immediately.

At the hospital, the doctor confirmed that the watch was right about his atrial fibrillation. This condition which refers to the erratic heartbeat could cause stroke or heart attack if not treated immediately.

Apple Praised for Atrial Fibrillation Detection Technology

The Summerville couple is just one of the several instances in which Apple was credited for its technology. Many patients have received their notification of having atrial fibrillation despite being perfectly fine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explained that approximately 2% of people under 65 years old and 9% of people 65 and older have the condition. Irregularities in heart rhythm also occur frequently as people get older and some individuals do not experience any symptoms.

Apple COO Jeff Williams shared that users often write to them every day, sharing how their Apple devices are helping them with their health.

"Our vision for the future is to continue to create science-based technology that equips people with even more information and acts as an intelligent guardian for their health, so they're no longer passengers on their own health journey," Williams added.