Level 1

57 points

heart rate spikes

Has anyone else seen spikes like this in their heart rate? I'm sure my heart isn't actually doing this. I made sure the Watch band was tight. Apple support told me to cycle power to the Watch - no difference. They told me to unpair and then pair - no difference. They replaced the Watch - no difference. They never actually acknowledged that this is a problem they have seen before, they just seemed to be offering up solutions that they resort to when they don't know what else to suggest. I understand that the Watch heart rate algorithm might not work for everyone, but I am surprised that I have not yet found a reference to anyone else having a similar problems. Others have complained about the accuracy, but they always report the heart rate measurement to be too low, whereas in my case it spikes to a value that is way too high.

Posted on Dec 20, 2016 12:48 PM

Top-ranking reply

Jstferrfun

Level 1

20 points

Posted on Jan 11, 2018 1:45 PM

So I have had the exact same problem, and am embarrassed to say what I have went through. I was convinced I must be having some type of fibrillation or something. I have seen this on my gen 1 watch for a year now. Did all the things they suggested as well, still got spikes. As a result, I actually went to a heart doctor who hooked me up to a 48 hour heart monitor test...which came back completely normal....no spikes despite seeing them on the Apple Watch during this time. I even joined cariogram and it just takes the data from the watch and gives no diagnostic back. So that was a waste. I just upgraded to a 3 series...same thing. I now have an alert on my watch so it tells me when it happens - but it will not work when you are exercising (which is when it happens to me). So now when I am exercising I hold the heart monitor on the exercise machine...I have caught several times my watch spiking, but zero spike on the exercise machine - completely normal. I don’t know what to say other than this is likely something many people experience. I love the watch and what it does - but this problem is annoying and for me caused considerable angst! I hope it is fixed soon. My biggest worry is if someone does have an actual problem and ignores it because they think it is erroneous. But for me at least it seems to not be accurate.

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124 replies

Feb 24, 2018 5:13 PM in response to drweiler

I get the same spikes.

Feb 24, 2018 5:15 PM in response to seanrice

Agreed

Allistah

Level 1

8 points

Mar 6, 2018 7:27 AM in response to Ansarim69

I had another good spike last night. Now that I know these aren’t real, it’s a bit of a disappointment. Looks like I had a blast in the middle of the night - wish I remembered it! Haha

Mar 14, 2018 11:29 PM in response to bill-lib

No major spikes for myself the past few weeks either but quite a few really low dips which is concerning

LAtPoly

Level 1

9 points

Mar 26, 2018 12:04 PM in response to patrickfrommalibu

I’ve wondered this as well, as I know there are times I have extra beats from wearing a Zio Patch.

May 17, 2018 8:59 AM in response to common folk

Me too

May 25, 2018 9:27 AM in response to KDESLANDES

Me too, this morning. Yesterday I bought a new Series 3 because my Original watch was showing random spikes. Today at 8AM it did 72 to 147 and back to 71! This is crap!

deggie

Level 10

167,827 points

Jul 29, 2018 7:19 PM in response to Puddletree

Software is not the issue in releasing a Watch with blood pressure capabilities, it is the pressurized sleeve that is the problem.

deggie

Level 10

167,827 points

Aug 14, 2018 6:47 PM in response to Boulderchick

Both of you need to contact Apple (they aren't here) and report the issue. It is possible you both have defective sensors.

Aug 31, 2018 9:01 PM in response to randeesue

Geez, thanks Dude. Maybe you need reading glasses.

Oct 27, 2018 10:38 AM in response to susanfromleonardtown

Jan 5, 2019 7:27 AM in response to drweiler

I have the same problem sinds i buy a New Apple Watch 3, and i have now a Apple Watch 4 and is the same problem of the heart rade spikes. I have made many photo ( screen shots of it ).

lugoben

Level 1

4 points

Jan 17, 2019 11:40 AM in response to Humbardi

I think that it would be an easy solution for Apple to solve and update it either ion the watch itself or in the phone software. It hasn't been done yet despite all reports.

Nov 15, 2017 2:35 PM in response to Ansarim69

A couple of times at wakeup I noticed spikes at 120 bpm starting at 2am and lasting 10 min.

I was asleep and didn’t remember anything particular. I told the doctor but he gave no importance to this evidence at all.

Dec 12, 2017 5:03 PM in response to drweiler

Same thing here. Bought the series 3 yesterday and have had 2 instances of incorrect spiked HR, both appeared to be when I stood up and each lasting within a single interval (1 minute).

I had HR issues with my Fitbit completely missing beats so have got in the habit of manually checking my pulse (which my doctor says is a much better way to go anyway, though not so easy while working out without stopping). Manually checking confirms the HR on the watch is completely off.

I bought this with the expectation that it will provide reliable HR data so expect Apple to fix this, particularly with their recently announced partnership with Standford Medical regarding the Atrial Fibrillation test...

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heart rate spikes