Heart Rate (BPM) readings not accurate

[john_v]

I recently noticed that my Watch 5 is giving me heart rate readings that are far above my actual heart rate. Best I can tell, it started around the time of the most recent update? So I'm hoping it is a software issue. I have tried all the heart rate settings (measure continuous, measure every 10, manual) and the manual button seems to get closest but still off by a minimum of 10-12bpm. If I set it at continuous, sometimes it will tell me my heart rate is 130 or higher. Having a stent in my LAD, it freaked me out last week. I was ready to head to the ER but fortunately I checked manually using a stethoscope and a digital BP cuff and both those methods told me it was fine, in the 72-78 range. I noticed today that if I use the ECG app, it will measure my BPM while measuring the ECG and it gives an accurate BPM during that test, but if I immediately check it using the heart rate app, it gives a much higher reading.

so all that to say, anyone have any ideas? Might it be worth a reset of the watch?

 

[o4liberty]

I have major heart issues to were nothing else can be done and mine is super accurate the ecg is very accurate shows me when I go into AFib.

 

[john_v]

I have major heart issues to were nothing else can be done and mine is super accurate the ecg is very accurate shows me when I go into AFib.

yeah see that's the thing, my ECG function works great, and BPM works great while that's running.

I did do a reboot yesterday and so far it seems to be back to normal...remains to be seen if it will hold. I read some threads on reddit that said people have managed to get it working properly but it doesn't last

 

[B. Diddy]

I've had a few Wear OS watches that also aren't very good at HR monitoring -- during a workout, they will often jump up to almost double my actual HR. I think it's a signal crossover problem, as described in this paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-020-0226-6#MOESM1

I wonder if the Pixel Watch will be better at this.

 

[theobject]

I have found that smart watches I have owned from Gear S2 to Watch4 & 5 tend to spike heart rate at the start of an exercise and then settle in. For example when I start a weight lifting exercise my heart rate would show as +140 and after 2-3 minutes would settle in at low 100's. It's not perfect but overall I think it works well.