Heart shows random drops to 40 BPM during the day on Apple Watch

[sTeaLth]

I have no other symptoms, but every few days I have one or two heart rate registers that show a large dip. I think if it was real I’d be light headed or short of breath or something. I don’t even know until I check my watch later and see it. It seems to have been happening for at least the last few months but I have no way of knowing if it is a real issue or just the watch being stupid every so often. I have been working out quite a bit lately but not enough to get my heart into the 40s at rest. When I sleep my heart is in the 50s. 60s while awake at rest. Today I was watching basketball with my bpm around 65-75 and then it shows a random 40 before going back to normal. Not sure if that is a glitch in the watch or my heart showing signs of an issue. I don’t remember feeling any different at all. Anyone else seen this or what are your thoughts?

 

[Phillies Phan]

Just my take here, but I avoid devices like Apple Watch, or 24 & Me because they are bound to be triggers. It’s like weighing yourself every few hours, or taking your BP many times a day, etc. You’re bound to eventually put yourself into an anxiety state.

 

[MARCC]

I have an oximeter and one time my pulse was 38. I felt fine. I think maybe my oximeter and your watch may not be accurate all of the time. Your pulse sounds great overall and many people would be thankful to have pulse rates like yours.

 

[sTeaLth]

Ya. I’m thinking it is just a random glitch. I have an annual with my general next month and I’ll probably bring it up and see what he thinks.

 

[sTeaLth]

I did just find this on Apple’s website. It talked about how the technology works and what can cause issues. This was at the end of the page. Mine definitely seem to be anomalies that aren’t real.

 

[MARCC]

Glad to hear.

 

[bin_tenn]

There will always be anomalies with such devices, and we'll always need to take the results with a grain of salt. They are never meant to replace devices designed for a clinical setting. I learned this years ago with a Fitbit, because I would obsessively watch my heart rate. That thing showed a lot of anomalies, especially at night.

 

[sTeaLth]

Yea. I talked with a doctor and he told me that with my big workouts I do regularly I would be noticing things wrong if there was an issue. He said it was almost certainly nothing and to ignore it.

 

[sTeaLth]

For those who read this later and deal with the same thing. This is what my watch does and I’ve started ignoring it because it’s definitely a false reading.

 

[sTeaLth]

Just a follow up that another person did post on my question in the Apple forums today regarding this issue. I barely notice them anymore but this is still nice to hear from another person.
"
Hi there!

I have also had this issue. I never really paid attention to my Apple Watch heart rate until I had COVID.
I started to pay attention and noticed these random spikes. I went back into my history, and it looks like this has been happening randomly ever since I had my Apple Watch.
I did speak to my cardiologist about this and even wore a holter monitor because of it and it all came back normal.
My cardiologist told me it must be artifact meaning that it has something to do with the Apple Watch reading.
When I see these pop up on my watch, it scares me for a second, but there were no symptoms involved and my HR went back to normal.
Just today a few minutes ago, it showed my HR go 87-90-42-97 and I was in the car driving to target. So I’m not sure if this is something in the way I am wearing my watch, or if I am moving a certain way that causes it."