Smart Phones/Watches for Health

[Jules]

Do you use a smart phone and/or watch to alert or track your health?

My watch is almost always on my wrist, so if I needed to alert someone I can do it easily. Not that I’ve had any, I want to be prepared in the event of an emergency. My phone is right beside the shower every morning. Many falls happen in the bathroom.

When reading on an Afib site, the topic of a smart watch to alert you when in AFib came up. The vast majority swore by them. Some even had been suggested by their doctor that they should get them. Some hadn’t realized they were in AFib in the night. It might not be that they needed to do anything, just had the info for their doctor.

I’ve checked my blood oxygen and done a few ECGs on mine.

I definitely track my steps. It’s a reminder that I might not have walked enough that day and then go for another walk.

Now my watch can monitor my sleep patterns. I‘m not sure what some of the anomalies are. I’ll be doing more research on this.

There are other tracking devices for this too.

When my phone rings upstairs and I’m downstairs, I answer from my wrist. No racing up stairs to get that important call.

Technology can be a great thing, imo.

 

[Murrmurr]

A couple years ago a Patek Philippe watch sold at auction for over $31 million. Neither the watch nor the buyer are particularly smart. Smart-looking, probably.

I haven't worn a watch since I retired. I don't think it would feel comfortable now, smart or not.

So, does your watch also act like one of those pendants that notifies an agency if you fall or something?

 

[CeeCee]

I have an iwatch. This is my second one, think it’s series 8. Bought it less than a year ago.
I do track my activity on it but haven’t set up the blood oxygen app yet.
I do like that if not too far from house I can answer and talk on my watch ( I do feel like Dick Tracy though). My daughter always calls when I’m taking the dog out to pee.

 

[-Oy-]

Yep - Apple Wtahc Series 8. It's a nice bit of kit. Connects to the machines I use in the gym and logs my activity/progress.
Unlocks my computer when I sit at it.
And all sorts of other clever gubbins

 

[Nathan]

I'm not a clock watcher or a watch watcher but I wear a Fitbit watch to monitor steps, active periods, heart rate, sleep.

 

[Jules]

So, does your watch also act like one of those pendants that notifies an agency if you fall or something?

Yes it does. I had a couple of heavy thumps at home when it asked if I’d fallen. Easy to say no, so no alert was sent. Once I took a serious tumble (not my fault) when outside. My husband was with me so it wasn’t needed.

Last year a neighbour fell off a ladder. She was very seriously injured. A watch or other device would have been great. She laid on the ground screaming until someone finally heard her.

Unlocks my computer when I sit at it.

Now I’ll have to look that up. My iPad does face recognition so not needed for an unlock from the watch.

 

[Feelslikefar]

Have an Android type Smart Watch which I wear at home to monitor things like BP, Blood Oxygen,
Heart Rate, Sleep, ECG, etc.

Pairs nice with my phone and gives me messages and such.

Seems to be fairly accurate and use it as a guide, not the only source I have for such things.