Fitbit Saves Teen's Life; App Detects Potentially Fatal Heart Condition

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Fitbit is designed to motivate individuals to keep fit and improve their health by tracking activity, exercise, food, weight and sleep. But, did you know that this device can also warn you about a fatal heart condition? Yes, it can and it just did.

Sarah-Jayne McIntosh, 18, from Southport, Merseyside, received a Fitbit as a Christmas present. The teen constantly uses this to measure her heart rate, which usually is around 84 beats per minute (bpm), Daily Mail Online reported.

On Wednesday, McIntosh was studying for an exam in her residence at Edge Hill University, in Ormskirk, Lancashire when she noticed that her heart rate jumped to 210bpm. It surprised her because it was too high than her usual heart beat per minute and, at the time, she was just sitting down.

She was worried, so she called the NHS non-emergency 111 number who immediately dispatched an ambulance and rushed her to Southport and Formby District General Hospital. She was then told that she had a heart condition.

"As soon as I got to the hospital, they hooked me on all these machines and did some blood tests and they have found an issue with my heart," McIntosh said. "Apparently one pathway from one chamber to the heart from the other was misfiring. Instead, of the chambers beating one after another like it normally should, they were beating at the exact same time, which was causing my heart rate to increase."

The doctors informed her that she had two heartbeats. She had a resting rate of 190bpm and doctors couldn't lower it. So, the medical professionals used shock to reset it and ended up using a medication that reacted within 10 seconds. It forced the heart to slow down and rest her body.

"For the first time that day I could get a full breath and I felt a lot better," she said. "My heart rate convulsed and started to gradually reduce."

Just several days ago, Fitbit made headlines due to inaccurate data. According to News.com.au, the smartwatch brand was sued by customers who claimed that the gadget's measures are wild and dangerous.

The San Francisco federal court suit claimed that the device's heart-rate monitors are inaccurate. "The heart-rate monitoring function of the PurePulse Trackers is a material - indeed, in some cases, vital - feature of the product," as stated in the lawsuit.

However, Fitbit fired back and stressed that the civil-action suit has no merit. They stood firm and disclosed that the company "plans to vigorously defend the lawsuit."

What will happen to the lawsuit filed against Fitbit, now that a new case proved that the wearable technology works and even saved a life? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.