What Paced Rhythm Looks Like on Your Watch ECG

Paced rhythm is a type of heart rhythm controlled by an electrical impulse from an artificial cardiac pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small device that's implanted in the chest to help control the heartbeat, used to prevent the heart from beating too slowly.

How to Spot Paced Rhythm on Your Watch ECG

A paced rhythm is easy to recognize. When a pacemaker fires, a small spike is seen on the ECG. These are the characteristics to identify paced rhythm:

• Rate: Usually 60-100 bpm
• Rhythm: Regular or Irregular
• P-waves: Present
• P-R interval: Normal or Prolonged
• QRS: Normal or wide if the spike is in the ventricle (QRS)
• Pacer spike: When a pacing stimulus is delivered to the heart, a spike (straight vertical line) is seen on the ECG strip.

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The spike preceding a P wave indicates that the atrium is paced, called atrial pacemaker. The spike preceding the QRS complex indicates that the ventricle is being paced, called a ventricular pacemaker.

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Risks of Wearing a Smartwatch with a Pacemaker

The risks associated with wearing a smartwatch while wearing a pacemaker is that the electromagnet in the watch could interfere with the pacemaker’s electrical signals. This could cause it to work less effectively or even stop working altogether.

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Benefits of Owning a Smartwatch with a Pacemaker

Apart from the associated threats, the smartwatch is known for keeping track of health. There are several benefits to owning a smartwatch with a pacemaker which are as follows:

1. It can help you keep track of your heart rate and activity level. Medically proven cardiac watches are widely available on the market. They help in keeping a good record of the heart’s health.
2. Secondly, the watch provides peace of mind by allowing you to call for help if you experience symptoms that may indicate a problem with the medical device.
3. Moreover, it provides health services and notifies people in case of an emergency.

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As always, if you show signs of potential abnormalities in your paced rhythm, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible to rule out the presence of harmful underlying conditions.

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Still Not Sure How to Spot Paced Rhythm on Your Watch ECG?

Your smartwatch can be your partner in looking after your heart. If you’re concerned about paced rhythm, get your smartwatch ECGs analyzed by experts within minutes on the QALY app: iOS and Android.

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