Want to monitor heart irregularities. Should I buy smartwatch?

I appreciate the additional info. I hope all goes well for you in January.

@kellyb1960 I will be having both done, together, early next year. We never even discussed the possibility of doing them separately.

I've found mine very useful for monitoring my Afib.
My Fitbit Sense watches have identified Afib overnight when multiple Zio Patch 2-week runs haven't.
Also, if I'm feeling a bit odd, I can immediately see if I have an elevated HR and use the ECG function to check if I'm in Afib or NSR.
I can then apply timely remedies to get things under control.
Failing that, I can get to the ER and get converted sooner rather than later.
Gives me a sense of control and has provided good info for my cardiologist.

@newtoni48 Most of the modern appliances/wearables are controlled by, and linked to, the accompanying phone via a health app via Bluetooth or equivalent. I know that Apple has one, and there must be third party ones, as there are for the Android with which I am most familiar (Samsung 'Health' and its adjunct heart assessment app for blood pressure and ECG).

In the case of Health, it also monitors sleep processes and stages, and I'm quite certain Apple's does as well. My point is that you can get a good look at your overall current state by looking at HRV and AHR (heart rate variability and average heart rate while sleeping). Next morning, upon waking, you can open the phone's apps and take a look at SPO2 (saturation of haemoglobin with O2). average HR, the heart's average for variability (it should lie somewhere within a global optimal range, somewhere near 42ms), and the breakdown of each of the stages of sleep and how long you spent in them comparatively. A quick glance at the app, maybe 30 seconds in all, will give the wearer a good indication of overall health.

Even going further, the 'waking pulse rate' of the heart, taken without moving much and when still in bed, and by enabling the heart monitor function on your wristwatch, will reveal if you should probably back off of intended hard physical work that day, and maybe the next as well. Most people can calculate a running average for waking pulse. When you get a raised result, say 60 BPM instead of your usual average rate of 53 BPM while asleep, that might be a sign that you need more rest, more sleep, or that you're fighting a pathogen of some kind, even that you have underlying inflammation or obvious pain. It's a cheap, handy, and highly effective way to assess one's heart health and its readiness to take on the obligations of the day.

Hi! I, too, am new to the world of A-fib! I want you to know that I have an Apple Smart Watch, that, perhaps, saved me from an undesirable outcome of A-Fib!! I recommend you buy a Smart Watch! It will help you know when you may be in A-fib! One morning, at 5am, or so, I woke up with my heart racing! I checked my heart rate with my Smart Watch! It was 110, and going up. Suddenly, I felt my heart flip/flop in my chest, and I got scared! That had never happened to me before. I couldn’t sense my heartbeat immediately after that, and I was feeling light headed, so my Doctor had shown me, on my Smart Watch, how to take an ECG reading, and told me that I should get an ECG reading if my heart starts racing! So, I took an ECG reading! Right away I could see something was terribly wrong! The normal ECG lines, up and downs, were not there, and, instead, it was erratic lines up and down, in different lengths, and a red bordered light and wording stated that I was in A-fib, and to call my Doctor immediately, and, if I pressed the crown of the watch, on the side, the Smart Watch would call 911 for me! I woke my wife up and told her about the A/Fib, and pressed the crown, since the Doctor’s office was closed! My wife got up, and got me a Propanolol tablet, which she said to take. My wife used to work in a hospital ER. Then, I decided to take another ECG reading, which showed that my heart had converted back to normal sinus rythym, and I could sense a heartbeat! I called the 911 operator, who said they were on their way, and told her my heart went bsck to normal!Then I called the Cardiologist on duty, at the hospital, and told him what happened! He said I did all of the right stuff, and that taking the Propanolol was the right thing to do! Anyway, then I sent the ECG reading to my Cardiologist’s office, and got an appoiintment with them. I went in, and they put me on a two week monitor, I have had several episodes of A-Fib that showed up on the monitor, so now the Cardiologist is evaluating what steps to take for the future! Due to previous falls, from my diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease, the Docs discussed The Watchman procedure, instead of blood thinners, to treat my A-Fib, So, it paid off for me to have a Smart Watch with heart rate, ECG, and blood oxygen level! I hope you will consider getting a possible life-saving Smart Watch! Good luck along your journey, of living with A-Fib!

Dows anyone know anything about the Fourth Frontier X Plus FDA approved heart monitor. You wear it using a chest strap. There is also a subscription plan for reports. I considering it since I think my Fitbit isn't working right.

@lmt1 I haven't heard of it, but it seems as if it has the same business model as so many on-line businesses, and that is to sell something and then offer a subscription service for the full capabilities of the device. This goes for the X Plus and for the popular Kardia Mobile devices that I don't believe are wearable, just tactile (you have to place a clean finger on each of two metal pads). You can always sign up for the subscription if you really need to, but in the case of the Kardia many won't need it...just a frequent indication of heart rhythm. So, you should investigate the X Plus to see if its outright purchase will allow you to get out of it what you need without paying for a monthly /annual subscription.

I purchased an update iPhone early this year it has both a heart rate app and as recommended by my cardiologist, an ECG. I use it every day. Have had AFib for six years. ‘Episodes’ are now occurring 20-25% of the time. These apps are very helpful and easy to use. The Kardia device is also good but my doctor thinks J’s the technology of the phone app is even better.