How to Set Up and Use AFib History on Apple Watch

Apple Watch has health tools designed for everyone, but its AFib history feature can provide insight into users who have been diagnosed with the condition.

Apple Watch has fitness and health features for everyone, and tools added in watchOS 9 now allow people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib) to see when their irregular heartbeats occur. Apple's Apple Watch is capable of tracking a user's heart health, from heart rate to rhythm. For people not known to have AFib, the Apple Watch can detect irregular heart rhythms and notify users when they occur. It is intended to alert users who may have AFib to seek medical help before the underlying problem becomes more serious.

In watchOS 9 and iOS 16, Apple introduced AFib History, a tool that provides insight into how much time a person spends with AFib. Although AFib is a chronic disease, people diagnosed with AFib may be able to reduce the amount of time their heart runs in an irregular rhythm. This data can be shared with medical professionals, or it can be used to quantify a person's personal progress. Since regular exercise and diet -- among other factors -- can reduce the amount of time a person spends with AFib, Apple's feature could Shows whether a person's condition is improving or worsening.

Set Up AFib History & Track Health Progress

To set up AFib history, open the Health app on your iPhone paired with your Apple Watch. Click the "Browse" tab at the bottom of the screen and select the "Heart" category. Scroll down to the "No Data Available" section and click the "AFib History" tab from the list. This will open a landing page explaining how AFib History works and remind users that their Apple Watch doesn't recognize if they're currently in AFib. The data collected is only based on an estimated percentage of the user's weekly heart rate. To continue, click the blue "Settings" button.

Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process, confirm date of birth and diagnosis of AFib by a medical professional. Click "Continue" to enter the information, read more instructions, and click "Finish". To get weekly AFib history estimates, make sure you wear your Apple Watch at least five days a week, for at least 10 hours a day.

Once enough data has been collected, users will receive an updated AFib history every Monday and can view their information in Health at any time application. Once the app is open, tap the "Browse" tab and select the "Heart" category. Scroll down to the AFib History tab where you can find the AFib percentages and applicable graphs. Once on this page, users can scroll down to Options and tap Export PDF to compile measurements into a document to share with medical professionals. The Apple Watch has health features designed for the average person, but it also provides tools for those facing specific health conditions.

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