An unexpected nap turned life-threatening for a woman who, unbeknownst to her, was suffering from a perilous blood clot. Her Apple Watch, a device known for its heart-monitoring capabilities, became an unsung hero by alerting her to a dangerously high heart rate.
High-tech heroism: a narrative of survival
Kimmie Watkins of Cincinnati, not feeling quite herself and experiencing light-headedness, attributed her discomfort to not having eaten enough. Deciding to take a nap, she was jolted awake by her Apple Watch, which registered a heart rate alarmingly high at 178 beats per minute, reports Local12. The alarm, indicating her heart rate had been excessively high for over ten minutes, convinced Watkins to seek immediate medical attention.
On visiting her doctor, Watkins received a diagnosis of a saddle pulmonary embolism, described by Dr. Richard Becker, a cardiologist at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine, as the “most severe and life-threatening” form of blood clot.
This condition straddles the blood vessels supplying both lungs and carries only a 50% survival rate. Adding to Watkins’ health woes, she discovered she had an underlying clotting disorder, despite no history of heart issues.
As she works on regaining her stamina and adheres to a regimen of blood thinners, Watkins hopes her experience will prompt others to consider health-monitoring wearable technology like the Apple Watch. “It might be seen as staying too connected or something, but I think it can be helpful in a health sense, and not just in a connect-to-people sense,” Watkins emphasised.
Wearable tech in healthcare: a growing trend
Watkins’ incident brings to light a broader discussion on the potential role of smart wearable technology in the healthcare sector. Devices like the Apple Watch are increasingly being recognised for their potential to detect health anomalies early, prompting faster interventions and potentially saving lives.
Yet another instance of Apple Watch’s potentially life-saving features occurred just a month prior, when a woman experiencing a heart attack was aided by emergency responders summoned by the Apple Watch’s fall detection feature.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Do you believe wearable technology like the Apple Watch is the future of personal health monitoring? Share your views in the comments below!
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