Apple Watch alerts man about irregular heartbeat

An Apple Watch changed the life of a 46-year-old Virginia man after the new electrocardiogram app detected he had an irregular heartbeat.

At first, Ed Dentel thought his Apple Watch wasn’t working properly when it alerted him that he had atrial fibrillation. Dentel turned his watch off and restarted it the next day, but the same message appeared.

ABC reports, Dentel was an active and healthy man and was never told he had any heart problems.

He became alarmed after the AFib message appeared when he tried it on both his wrists and after he turned it on and off multiple times.

Atrial fibrillation, commonly called AFib or AF, is a specific kind of irregular heart rhythm. If left untreated, it can weaken heart muscles and increase the risk of stroke.

According to ABC, Dentel drove to a nearby urgent care center where he was quickly given an EKG by a technician, who called for a doctor, who said, “Yup, you’re in AFib. This thing may have just saved your life.”

Dentel later went to a cardiologist where his diagnosis was confirmed. He started medication on Friday and has follow-up appointments this week.

The Apple Watch Series 4 is the only watch that can produce EKGs. The user needs to download the software and turn it on in the device’s settings.

None of the devices can tell you if you’re having a heart attack. AFib is a precursor to potential blood clots, stroke and heart attack.

Doctors said they’re taking a wait-and-see approach with the new Watch.