Peter Moore, a former tech executive living in Montecito, California, credits his Apple Watch for saving his life after it alerted him to a dangerously low heart rate. Moore was on his way to the Santa Barbara Airport to pick up his daughter when he suddenly felt lightheaded and faint. He decided to stop at a local Starbucks, thinking a short break would help.
However, his condition did not improve, and he was shocked to receive a notification from his Apple Watch about a critical heart issue. The device detected that Moore’s heart rate had dropped to 32 beats per minute, which is significantly lower than the normal resting heart rate of 60-100 beats per minute for older adults. While highly trained athletes may have resting heart rates as low as 40 bpm, it is extremely rare for non-athletes to experience such low heart rates.
Moore informed his wife about the notification, and she immediately took him to the hospital. Doctors told him that he needed a pacemaker urgently. Within hours, Moore underwent surgery to have a pacemaker implanted to help regulate his heartbeat.
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Apple Watch alerts critical heart issue
Omid Yousefian, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Sansum Clinic Cardiology, acknowledged the crucial role played by the Apple Watch in saving Moore’s life.
“His watch played a significant part in saving his life,” Yousefian said. “He was alerted by his watch and connected that alert to his symptoms, leading him to seek immediate medical help. That quick response was vital.”
Following the surgery, Moore made a full recovery and now feels “great” about his health.
As a technology enthusiast, Moore has an even greater appreciation for his Apple Watch. “The value of wearables is not just in daily use but also in real-time health monitoring. In my case, it saved my life,” Moore stated.
Many modern wearables now feature multiple health monitoring capabilities, with heart rate monitoring being one of the most prominent. These devices can alert users if their resting heart rate is above 120 bpm or below 40 bpm for more than 10 minutes. Additionally, users can receive notifications if they experience irregular heart rhythms, which may indicate atrial fibrillation (Afib).
This story underscores the importance of wearable technology in detecting and responding to potential health issues, ultimately saving lives in the process.
