A MUM has claimed she could have died if her Apple watch hadn’t alerted her to an undiagnosed heart condition.
Elaine Thompson started suffering with seizures in April 2018.
Elaine Thompson says her Apple watch saved her life after it alerted her to a heart conditionSWNS
She had been wearing the monitor after suffering from seizuresSWNS
The wearable alerted her to irregular heart rhythm measures, so she booked in to see her GPSWNS
The 59-year-old underwent treatment for epilepsy following the episodes.
However, further tests revealed there was nothing wrong with her, and she continued to collapse.
It wasn’t until this month that Elaine was diagnosed with an irregular heart rhythm, with the Apple watch having flashed a ‘red alert’ warning sign.
Elaine later learnt that this alert had been down to her flatlining for 19 seconds in her sleep.
Medics said she had an atrioventricular block – a heart block where the heart beats more slowly or with an abnormal rhythm.
Some people are born with the condition, whilst others develop it later on in life.
The NHS states that it can be caused by other heart conditions, such as a heart attack, prescription medications, having heart surgery or illnesses like Lyme disease.
Heart blocks are graded on a scale of one to three and in some cases can be life threatening, medics state.
Now Elaine says she ‘would have been dead’ if her watch hadn’t picked up the abnormality.
After continuing to suffer seizures, Elaine was put on medication to try and stop her episodes.
And in February 2022 her daughter Ashleigh Thompson, 39, said her mum should wear an Apple watch as a monitor.
Elaine said: “When I woke up one day there was a red alert. It advised to see a doctor so I did and showed them the results the watch had recorded.”
Tests still came back as normal, but the mum-of-two was put on a waiting list for a heart monitor.
She had to wait until November before she was finally fitted with one, and found out the results in January 2023.
Elaine said: “My daughter rang me and told me I needed to go in to hospital urgently and the doctors were trying to get hold of me.
“I went in and they told me that my results showed I’d flatlined for 19 seconds
“They told me it was an electrical fault with my heart and that I needed to be fitted with a pacemaker.
“I had it done the next day and now I have it for life. But it’s a relief I went to get it looked at, otherwise I might be dead.”
The different types of heart block and the symptoms you need to know
The NHS states that there are three degrees of heart block you should be aware of.
1st degree block: Guidance states that this does not usually cause any symptoms and that most people only find out they have it when they are tested for another condition.
2nd-degree block: Also known as Mobitz Type 1, the NHS says people may feel lightheaded or dizzy. But those with a more serious 2nd degree block might experience chest pains, shortness of breath and feeling very dizzy suddenly when standing up from a lying or sitting position. The NHS states that this is caused by having low blood pressure.
3rd-degree block: The NHS says this this can refer to a complete heart block and guidance states that the symptoms are:
feeling faint
being short of breath
extreme tiredness with confusion
chest pain
Call 999 if your symptoms are severe or come on very quickly. These symptoms can be life threatening, the NHS states.
The NHS states that unless you’re experiencing symptoms, then a heart block is often diagnosed during routine tests for other conditions.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is the main test used to diagnose heart block. It measures the electrical activity of your heart, medics state.
These tests can be carried out when you are resting or exercising.
Your GP might ask you to wear a portable ECG monitor in order to assess your heart rate over time and this can also be a good gauge as to how well your heart is working.
The test might also be able to detect what type of heart block you have.
If you’re worried about any of your symptoms, you should see your GP.
In the event of an emergency, always call 999 or visit your closest A&E department.
Elaine had to have a pacemaker fitted, above is the scar after the procedureSWNS Read More