Want to monitor heart irregularities. Should I buy smartwatch?

Afib is serious business so this is not medical advice and I do this because I’ve already been diagnosed. The easy way I can confirm an episode is with my Accumed pulse oximeter that clips on your finger and measures oxygen. It also measures heart rate and has a waveform that shows your heart rhythm kind of like an EKG. I can always feel when I go into afib but then I monitor with this device. The oximeter just confirms it for me by showing an absolutely chaotic waveform pattern as well as a high heart rate. It also shows if I’m only having PVCs with an irregular but consistent wave pattern. On the other hand, my BP monitor only indicates if my heart rate is irregular but not why so that’s not helpful. I have gone to the ER a couple times when I was in afib and it was confirmed so I know what the afib pattern looks like. I’m sure others have better tech stuff but this is easy and enough for me to monitor and easy to carry with you if needed. I bought it to monitor my low oxygen level but this is an added benefit. When in afib the waveform goes back to normal (usually overnight) before my heart rate does (slowly over typically 30 hours). My BP usually goes down low so I get dizzy when I first stand up and I’m very weak and fatigued especially day 2. The device is inexpensive ($20-$30) on Amazon. Mine has a thin waveform line that is easy to ID. They vary by brand. It doesn’t document history like other devices might but you can do that manually. Maybe you already have one?

Perhaps Kardia? I use it for heart palpitations and if you purchase the device and then the "advanced diagnosis", it will tell you if you have one of the 5 palpitations conditions. None of the ECG/heart readers, including watches and the like, are 100% accurate. My best.
https://store.kardia.com/products/kardiamobile6l?srsltid=AfmBOop5Z-N4XiJGOq5jQ4TRCYkNTEEu_EQz8dAphB8vcqzH2Xe1q_E7

A-Fib isn’t anything to play around with! I didn’t feel anything, but my Apple Watch alerted that A-Fib was detected. I then saw a cardiologist & was put on Eliquis. If you have financial issues, ask your cardiologist for Eliquis coupons or samples. If you don’t have faith in your cardiologist’s recommendation on treatment, find another one! But, take A-Fib seriously!

Samsung Galaxy uses Android. I have been using them for years now. They will deteermine your blood pressure as well.

My Apple watch reported A-Fib. I didn't take it too seriously. Then an hour later it reported A-Fib again. I let it go overnight, but the watch was still calling A-Fib when I ran the ECG function. I told my wife, a nurse. She told me to get to emerg. The emerg nurse said yup you are in A-Fib and they like to clear up A-Fib within 48 hours as the risk of stroke may increase. They did the conversion by doubling my normal dose of Bisoprolol. The conversion to normal pulse occurred within 30 minutes. Had the conversion not occurred, electric shock therapy (or whatever it is called) would have been the next step. I'm now on Eliquis and Apixaban to prevent further issues.
So, as ginnyjm says - take A-Fib seriously.

I have Afib occasionally and after side effects from the drug, Amiodarone, my thyroid was damaged. I was prescribed levothyroxine and after 4 months heart palpitations started. I purchased a smart watch by VeryFit. It's around $80.00 on Amazon and it is very helpful. I think it is worth having the watch and if you are in Afib I have to say that it helped me go back to a regular sinus rhythm since I was watching my BPM and breathing and I seemed to get back into rhythm in less time. Although you can perform box breathing and deep breathing exercises for Afib (if not chronic) you can tell the difference if you are having palpitations or Afib which will progress into much higher heart rates and low heart rates by the BPM on the watch. My palpitations are a side effect of levothyroxine so they happen randomly with no trigger, but if I feel a symptom coming, the watch shows the elevated heart rate at rest. I then start breathing before it gets worse. When in Afib 2 months ago, I knew it was Afib by the heart rates and I focused on my watch for signs of slowing BPM which helps. The watch connects to your phone through an app so you can see your heart rate on the phone as well and it has great features for exercise, stress rates, calories, and many other features. It is also waterproof so I swim with it and it gives me the distance while swimming in meters. It has a feature for BP but is inaccurate. But, I think that is the only negative.

That smartwatch sounds helpful for $80. I am going to try the box breathing next time to see if that works for me. Thanks for sharing.

Amen! Glad you & your wife took it seriously, gmul!

Does anyone experience afib after they do a good stretch? Or just reaching with their arms over their head?

I have a much different opinion than most. I am sure the sellers of the watch would not like, but if I had it, it would be an obsession. Every tiny deviation and it would make me nervous, and probably cause Afib. I also would not take Eliquis. The listed side effects... no.

I miss coffee and chocolate and ice cream with coffee or chocolate in it. But I do not miss Afib episodes, and do not have weird treatments or drugs in me that produce horrible side effects. To me, no different than people I know that inject insulin but munch on donuts etc and adjust the quantity of insulin. Or have kidney stones, but consume diet colas which I believe cause them. Or take drugs because they are overweight, instead of getting rid of processed foods and junk. Or take drugs for depression, instead of dealing with the cause and learning to accept and other ways to cope. The list goes on.