By Graham K. Rogers

Health monitoring has become important not only in terms of personal performance, or sending data to physicians. In some cases, predictive analysis can warn of an imminent problem. Research by the developers of Cardiogram show that the Apple Watch can have a role to play in this. The app was updated some hours after this was put online: see below.

Background

Automatically recording some types of data was made much easier with the arrival of the Apple Watch, particularly heart rate and I was fascinated by the difference a flight of stairs could make to the figures. Along with distance, I was keen to keep a check on this, occasionally supplementing heart rate input from the Apple Watch (which records throughout the day) with iOS apps like Argus. This allows easy input of some data (e.g. cups of coffee) and like several others can check heart rate with the iPhone camera: useful if the Apple Watch is not available.

I noted with the Argus app a slight blip in the graph available, which matched what I had already been told by doctors: a slight arrhythmia. This was also picked up when I checked out the Qardio blood pressure monitoring device that works with HealthKit, but not by the app for the Withings blood pressure monitor.

Argus (left) and Cardiogram apps

Cardiogram App

Cardiogram Displays on Apple Watch

On the Apple Watch I allowed continuous recording. Apple's own heart monitor records during the day too. The Cardiogram display on the Apple Watch shows a clear graph of the heart rates recorded. Several graph options are available by tapping on the screen. On the iPhone there is now much more data. For example, there are 12 readings for 12:45 today and there are now hundreds of recordings for the rest of the day, ranging from 48 up to a phenomenal 215 for a tiny period. The time coincides with when I put the Watch back on after a shower and the green lights were displayed even though it was not on my wrist. Other highs during the day are still sending me warnings.

While the Health app just has data, the Cardiogram app presents the information in different ways allowing for a more personal analysis. Peak events are displayed and I am able to tag a reason, such as exercise, eating, stress (and others). A user can also add personal tags.

Comments

While those like me who are a little (or more) past middle age will find it useful to be made aware of risk and performance, this applies to younger people as well. While some are keen to monotor daily performance for health and fitness, each year many who engage in sports (including some quite young people) die because of conditions they (or their families) were unaware of. Checking and finding out is useful for all ages and I would urge anyone not to take good health for granted. As part of setting up this app, I opted in to the mRhythm HealthKit research study.

Update

• More fixes for data sync and refresh
• Suggestion to quit and refresh app if "stale data" is still being seen
• Update graph rendering library

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. After 3 years writing a column in the Life supplement, he is now no longer associated with the Bangkok Post. He can be followed on Twitter (@extensions_th)