Smart watches able to detect irregular heart beats; potentially save lives

EL PASO, Texas -- A study is revealing new uses for smart watches: detecting irregular, and possibly dangerous, heart beats.

The Apple Heart Study found that the smart devices were able to detect atrial fibrillation, a condition that can lead to stroke and causes an irregular heart beat.

The study found that the watches detected the condition correctly 84 percent of the time.

"It's not that the watch is ready to be a diagnostic tool for the physician, but at least a method to alert the patient that he may have a problem with the rhythm of his heart, or her heart," said Dr. Oscar Munoz, who is an interventional cardiologist at Del Sol Medical Center.

For some, atrial fibrillation causes symptoms including shortness of breath, heart palpitations and lightheadedness. However, Dr. Munoz says others won't experience symptoms at all, which is why he thinks some will benefit from the watch.

"Your primary care physician can check and see (that) you may need to do additional studies or may need to refer you to a cardiologist to treat the arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)," Munoz said.

Only 57 percent of study participants who received irregular pulse notifications sought medical attention.