FitBit Helps Save NJ Man’s Life

Late last week, a 42-year-old NJ man was taken to an emergency room following a seizure. The doctors noticed he had an atrial fibrillation (an irregular and fast heart beat), but they weren’t sure if it was chronic, or if the seizure triggered it. That information is crucial because it determines whether or not the medical staff can electrically cardiovert the patient to alleviate the arrhythmia. If it was chronic, the cardioversion could dislodge an appendage clot, sending it up the aorta and possibly triggering a stroke. But failure to treat the arrhythmia could also result in a stroke. Thankfully, the medical staff noticed that the patient was wearing a fitness tracker.

The patient's FitBit Charge showed that the irregular heartbeat took place during his seizure, but was not a chronic issue.

The Annals of Emergency Medicine has the full report. According to the report, this is the first time in medical history a fitness tracker has been used to help in medical decision making.