Apple Watch Series 4 added the EKG feature
A California pediatric cardiologist says she had an emergency C-section to save her and her unborn baby’s life after an Apple Watch alerted her to her undiagnosed heart problems.
Apple Watch has saved the life of tech pioneers and even Peloton exercise staff, but now it’s also saved pregnant women and their children. And it’s all because Apple Watch owners are more aware of their health, plus they bring so much useful data to their doctors.
According to ABC 10 News San Diego, pediatric cardiologist Rachel Manalo says that when she was pregnant in 2022, she felt her heart racing. At only 18 weeks pregnant, it began to happen increasingly often.
“I would feel tired, short of breath. I remember sitting down with the patient and giving a diagnosis,” she said. “And I felt dizzy just sitting in my chair like I was about to faint.”
At 33 weeks pregnant, with her heart still periodically racing, she turned to her Apple Watch. “I click the EKG function on my Watch,” she said, “and then you place your finger on the crown and lay your arm still on the table, and it takes a recording for 30 seconds.”
In this case, the Apple Watch reported an “inconclusive” result, and recommended that she seek medical help. When she did so, further testing found that her heart was running at 150 beats per minute instead the more regular 60-100bpm.
“That type of heart issue, if not taken care of, can lead to a heart attack, and then you add on that she was pregnant,” said Manalo’s physician, Dr Tina Nguyen. “I said ‘so when did you start noticing this irregular heart rate, you know, when did you have symptoms?’ and she said, ‘you know, my Apple Watch told me.'”
Nguyen says that asa doctor, and also an infomatics specialist, she always wants all possible data.
“I want, you know, the patients to all wear Fitbits, all wear OURA rings and bring me all that information,” she says. “Just having someone’s blood pressure when they’re at home and their heart rate can really change their pregnancy from the first visit forward. So that information is like gold to me.”
What Dr Nguyen does not want, though, is for patients to attempt interpreting their own health data. “Raw data is not a diagnosis, right? It’s just symptoms,” she says.
Given Manalo’s symptoms, and also further testing at the hospital, Dr Nguyen concluded that a cesarean section was required. Manalo was now at 34 weeks pregnant, and her heart would not be able to cope with a vaginal delivery.
“At that point,” said Manalo, “it’s just whatever is the best choice for me and the baby so we can go home safe.”
Manalo’s daughter Samantha is now two years old. Her mother has had medication and minor surgery to correct her heart problem, because her Apple Watch told her to seek medical advice.
This EKG feature was introduced with the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018. Apple said at the time that it was “the first EKG product offered over the counter directly to consumers.”