quickmouse22

Q: Apple Watch Heart Rate Monitor Misreads During Workouts

During almost any serious workout my heart monitor gives misreadings of my heart rate. Wether its running or doing body weight training, my heart rate will fluctuate from 60's bpm to 160's bPm. When I look at the apple health logs it shows it bouncing back and forth between this range several times during the same minute. It would be scary if this were true! I do have an irregular heart beat at times,, but I've also been reading others with this same issue. whats the deal? Is this a hardware problem? Is it due to the update? I hope it's something fixable

Apple Watch, watchOS 1.0.1, Steel 38mm sport band

Posted on Jun 16, 2015 11:56 AM

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Q: Apple Watch Heart Rate Monitor Misreads During Workouts

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  • by Brett L,

    Brett L Brett L Jun 18, 2015 11:43 AM in response to quickmouse22
    Community Specialists
    Jun 18, 2015 11:43 AM in response to quickmouse22

    Greetings quickmouse22,

     

    If you are not experiencing expected results when using the Apple Watch heart rate monitor, I would suggest that you check to be certain that the watch is fitted snugly. Skin contact is needed for this to work well. See this article on wearing the Apple Watch -

     

    Wearing Apple Watch - Apple Support

     

    In particular -

    For best results, the back of Apple Watch needs skin contact for features like Wrist Detect, the Taptic Engine, and the heart rate sensor. Wearing your Apple Watch with the right fit — not too tight, not too loose, and with room for your skin to breathe — will keep you comfortable and let the sensors do their jobs. You may want to tighten your Apple Watch band for workouts, then loosen it when you’re done. In addition, the sensors will work only if you wear Apple Watch on the top of your wrist.

    Too loose.

    If your Apple Watch doesn’t stay in place, or the sensors aren’t reading your heart rate, tighten the band a bit.

     

     

    Just right.

    Your Apple Watch should be snug but comfortable.
     

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

     

    Be well,

     

    Brett L