Heartline Study

As I was approaching 70 years of age, I felt I should do whatever I could to maintain or improve my health. A friend had told me about the Heartline program so I enrolled and got the Apple Watch for free! About 10 days after starting to use it, I was watching TV while relaxing on the couch. I heard a little noise from my watch and it told me that it had detected an irregular heartbeat. I was instructed to perform an ECG which told me that I was in a fib. It was a total surprise as I had no symptoms or past history. It then instructed me to consult my doctor and she sent me to get a heart monitor. I wore it for two weeks and to my surprise I had 25 episodes of a fib in that two weeks. Again, no symptoms to alert me that there was a problem. So then I had to have an echo cardio gram to check how my heart was functioning. Everything checked out fine in my heart so now I am on a blood thinner and a beta blocker. I’m so grateful to have learned this before a big problem presented itself. Now the Heartline app is sending me all kinds of good information to help me understand how to better care for myself. I can’t say enough good things about it. I talked my husband into joining the study as well and now we are both working hard to get our rings to close!

I saw the ad for the study this app is used for in AARP Magazine. It mentioned the possibility of getting a subsidized iWatch for taking part. I thought the study might be useful anyway and if I got the watch that would be a bonus. By signing up you get weekly (more or less) emails or notices on the app that link to brief but generally informative notices. By reading through those you accumulate points that translate into $$. I happened to also get selected for the iWatch pool so was able to buy the larger watch for $79 plus tax I think about 70% of those registering can opt into the iWatch pool but there is no guarantee until you sign up. You also have to have original Medicare. Some Advantage plans may join in the study but I’m not sure about that. The study will last approximately 2 years and you need to agree to be in it for that period. BTW, you need an iPhone for the watch to pair to. The information they send is fairly basic so far (a month into the study) but is quick to go through. If you read through their legal information you will see that they strip personally identifying information from any data they collect before sending it along for analysis. Since Apple is a partner in this study I felt my info would be fairly secure but you will have to make that determination for yourself. Hopefully the information they gather will be if use so I’m happy to have signed up.

I joined the Heartline Study just before the pandemic shut down our world. I am basically a sedentary person, but also competitive. If I was not in this study and did not have an Apple Watch, I would not be exercising...period! Since I signed up for the study, I have not missed a day of at least 30 minutes of exercise. The app reminds me to stand during each hour, so if I’m relaxing or spending too much time on my computer or iPad, it gets me moving, at least a little every hour. The weekly information is pretty basic. But it reminds me of the importance of exercise and thinking about what foods I choose and how much I eat. If I did not have this app during the past four months of physical distancing, I would have been leading a much more sedentary life. I feel I am healthier since I started using the app. I did not realize how many things the Apple Watch could do for you. Until I signed up for this study, I had not used an Apple Watch. It is wonderful. I’m so glad I am using this app to the fullest along with my Apple Watch. I have recommended the Heartline study to many friends. I do not know how many are using it. I would recommend it to anyone who is considering the study. Oh, and by the way, you get rewarded with points for certain activities, mostly readings, which turn into money. I have not spent any yet. I may wait till I can shop in a store, though I can redeem my money online as well. If you qualify...get this app!