Apple Watch detects symptom of thyroid issue months ahead of diagnosis

AppleInsider

A nursing student in Australia is encouraging Apple Watch owners to enable heart rate notifications, after the wearable device detected symptoms of a thyroid condition months before being diagnosed.

Apple's heart rate notifications have helped numerous people detect issues with their heart, prompting them to go and seek further medical assistance. In a recent posting to TikTok, it's shown the wearable device can detect very early changes that could end up being diagnosed months later.

Posted on February 2, TikTok user Lauren encouraged viewers of her video to enable notifications for detecting low and high heart rates, irregular rhythms, and for cardio fitness levels. In the video, spotted by The Independent, the Sydney-based nursing student admitted that she should've enabled the features earlier than she did, as it had medical consequences.

In Lauren's explanation, she says she was diagnosed with a thyroid condition a few weeks previously. However, she admits "I would have realized something was going on if my Apple alerted me of changes."

"Instead of me waiting for the symptoms to get really bad, I could have gone to the doctor back in October, when there was this dramatic drop in a matter of days," Lauren adds, alongside a screenshot of a graph from the Health app. "It dramatically dropped, which means my cardiovascular system wasn't working as well as it once was."

The drop also correlated with other symptoms, including fatigue, a sensitivity to heat, gaining weight, dry skin, and increased irritability. In December, she was diagnosed with thyroid hemiagenesis, and is undergoing treatment.

Lauren admits the Apple Watch wasn't an item she considered as being a provider of health and medical advice normally, but it was still useful. "Don't get me wrong, your Apple Watch is definitely not something you should follow as medical advice, but it can come in handy, I guess, as a tool to prompt you to go get things investigated further."

"But on this occasion, I really wish that I had all the settings toggled on and noticed the changes and gone to the doctor sooner."

Since its publication, the TikTok video has been viewed more than 351,000 times, and has been liked almost 2,500 times. Comments on the video were positive about the heart-related features of the Apple Watch, including for collecting heart rate data for use by doctors.

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libertyforall

Love these kinds of insights/stories.  Preemptive health is important.  

GeorgeBMac

A high or low heart can be caused by many different things.  But if it is unexplained and particularly if there’s an unexplained change it’s best to have it checked and the cause diagnosed. 

My resting heart rate is in the 40’s.   But I know why - and it’s good. 

viclauyyc

GeorgeBMac said:

A high or low heart can be caused by many different things.  But if it is unexplained and particularly if there’s an unexplained change it’s best to have it checked and the cause diagnosed. 

My resting heart rate is in the 40’s.   But I know why - and it’s good. 

Are you a marathon runner?

GeorgeBMac

viclauyyc said:

GeorgeBMac said:

A high or low heart can be caused by many different things.  But if it is unexplained and particularly if there’s an unexplained change it’s best to have it checked and the cause diagnosed. 

My resting heart rate is in the 40’s.   But I know why - and it’s good. 

Are you a marathon runner?

No, I've always regarded marathons as too hard on the body.  But I do run. 

Lately, with the weather, that has mostly been with Emily on Apple's Fitness+ treadmill workouts.   But that's been helpful as her workouts verge on HIIT training -- which boosts fitness -- especially VO2Max.  But, more typically, I run 5-10 Kilometers on groomed trails 4 - 6 days a week (depending on intensity) plus occasional walking and cycling (mostly to help recovery -- although cycling can make for a great 'long, slow workout' which is also very helpful for fitness.  I am hoping to include more 2+ hour cycling sessions this summer.)

NFF

Many of us with hypothyroidism have resting heart rates in the high 30s to mid-40s. Even with medication. 

To have 120 suggests she is hyperthyroid. Sometimes untreated people with thyroid issues swing back & forth between hypo & hyper. If you see such swings, definitely consult  a thyroid specialist. 

theotherphil

NFF said:

Many of us with hypothyroidism have resting heart rates in the high 30s to mid-40s. Even with medication. 

To have 120 suggests she is hyperthyroid. Sometimes untreated people with thyroid issues swing back & forth between hypo & hyper. If you see such swings, definitely consult  a thyroid specialist. 

Not gonna lie, I think you looked at the picture and didn’t read the article before commenting….and even took the effort to sign up first.

Nowhere in the article did it mention a heart rate of 120….in fact it said the absolute opposite - her heart rate dropped.

raneyt

I am thankful for this feature. I noticed my heart rate was low at times, so I set my watch to notify me when it was below 45 for 10 min or more. It was pinging me several times a night, and when I let my dr know, we tested and found that I have a thyroid problem.I am now on medication to help this situation. BTW, on another note, my husband was hunting, and slipped and fell down a hill. His watch asked him if he was alright. He was. If not, I think it may have called emergency services for him. Way to go, Apple!