Apple watch saves man's life from potentially deadly heart condition

A man named Ed Dentel was saved by his Apple Watch after it detected an irregular heartbeat, which ultimately led to a scary diagnosis.

The incident took place last Thursday, December 6, 2018, when he put on his watch early in the morning, right before going to work.

As reported by ABC News, the 46-year-old initially didn't believe the machine's readings, but after several tests, his mind was made up.

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Dentel installed the software update along with the electrocardiogram app just to play with it, not knowing that the device would end up saving his life.

The Richmond, Virginia, resident practices taekwondo three times a week and bikes and skis on a regular basis, so he never thought the watch would pick up anything out of the ordinary.

ABNORMAL READINGS

When it did, he tried to put the watch on different arms, believing it to be a glitch, and even handed it to his wife, but her values came back normal. That's when he decided to drive to an urgent care center.

There, Dentel was given an EKG by a technician and a doctor informed him that he was in AFib, an irregular heart rhythm that can weaken the heart muscles, increasing the risk of stroke.

THE PATIENT DIDN'T REVEAL ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS

Dentel was referred to a cardiologist named Samuel S. Wu, who confirmed the previous doctor's diagnosis. On Friday, Dentel started taking medication and has a few follow-up appointments this week.

AFib is usually connected to high blood pressure, smoking, alcohol abuse and obesity, but none of those factors applied to the 46-year-old, which was why he was so shocked to learn about his condition.

SYMPTOMS AND A REVOLUTIONARY DIAGNOSIS METHOD

Symptoms such as an abnormally fast or fluttering heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain and fatigue shouldn't be taken lightly and it is highly advisable to seek professional help if experienced.

Recently, a study conducted by Professor Bruce Wolfenbuttel was published in the medical journal "Diabetologia," suggesting a non-invasive technique to diagnosed heart disease and diabetes.

The procedure is non-invasive and is conducted by measuring skin autofluorescence, or, in simpler terms, by casting a light on the patient's skin to reach a diagnosis.