Apple Watch’s AFib History Feature Now Available in India: A Guide to Usage

Apple Watch has introduced the AFib History feature, allowing users to measure the frequency of irregular pulse rhythms and estimate their AFib burden. Initially launched with watchOS 9, the feature was initially available in select countries such as the US, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Mexico, South Africa, and the UK. The availability was later expanded to Australia, and now, almost a year later, Apple has announced that watchOS 9’s AFib History feature is accessible in India.

Atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, is an irregular heart rhythm where the upper chambers beat out of sync with the lower chambers. Symptoms of AFib include a rapid heartbeat, palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath. The AFib History Feature on Apple Watch measures the frequency of irregular pulse rhythms and provides users with an estimate of their AFib burden. This percentage represents the amount of time a person’s heart is in AFib during a specific monitoring period. Users receive weekly notifications to track their AFib frequency and can view a detailed history in the Health app. The history includes lifestyle factors like sleep patterns, alcohol consumption, and exercise that may influence AFib. Furthermore, users can download a PDF copy of their AFib history, including lifestyle factors, to easily share with doctors for better care.

Apple states that the AFib History feature is available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later models running watchOS 9. To set up AFib History on your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

1. Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS and your Apple Watch to the latest version of watchOS.
2. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
3. Tap “Browse,” then select “Heart.”
4. Tap “AFib History.”
5. Tap “Set Up,” and then tap “Get Started.”
6. Enter your Date of Birth.
7. Select “Yes” to indicate that you have been diagnosed with AFib by a doctor, and then tap “Continue.”
8. Tap “Continue” to learn more about AFib History, the results, and lifestyle factors.
9. Tap “Done” to complete the setup process.

To view your AFib History estimate, Apple Watch provides users with weekly alerts every Monday, indicating the estimated percentage of time their heart showed signs of AFib during the previous week. Alternatively, users can access their history in greater detail through the Health app. Follow these steps:

1. On your iPhone, open the Health app.
2. Tap “Browse,” then select “Heart.”
3. Tap “AFib History.”

It’s important to note that the AFib History estimate appears as a percentage. A lower percentage indicates that your heart was in AFib less often, while a higher percentage suggests a higher frequency. Apple mentions that AFib History will never show as 0%, but instead, it will display as “2% or less.”

For users who want to have a PDF copy of their AFib data, follow these steps:

1. On your iPhone, open the Health app.
2. Tap “Browse,” then select “Heart.”
3. Tap “AFib History.”
4. Scroll down to Options and tap “Export PDF.”
5. Tap the Share Button to send the PDF to someone in your Contacts, save it to the Files app, or AirDrop it to another device.

With the availability of the AFib History feature in India, Apple Watch users can now easily monitor and track their AFib patterns, empowering them to take better care of their heart health.