San Antonio Spurs legend and NBA commentator Sean Elliott recently experienced a health scare highlighting Apple Watch’s potentially life-saving capabilities. Elliott, known his role in the Spurs’ first championship, found himself at the center of a different kind of heart-pounding drama, according to a report.
“My watch kept telling me you’re in Atrial Fibrillation. It just kept telling me over and over again, and I said, ‘there’s no way, I feel fine,'” Elliott recounted in an interview. Despite feeling no symptoms, the persistent warnings from his smartwatch eventually prompted him to seek medical attention. And it’s a good thing he did.
San Antonio Spurs star Sean Elliott glad he finally got help after repeated Apple Watch AFib warnings
Apple Watch is increasingly well-known for both aiding in rescues via Emergency SOS and warning users of heart-related problems. Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of irregular heartbeat in the United States, affecting an estimated 8 to 9 million Americans. While it can cause symptoms like chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath, Elliott experienced none of these, making his watch’s alerts even more crucial, according a report in KSAT.com.
After dismissing the warnings for several days, Elliott finally contacted his cardiologist after a morning of repeated AFib notifications. The doctor immediately requested to see Elliott, leading to a diagnosis of AFib. “Thank goodness I was wearing my watch,” Elliott reflected. “Imagine going a month or two with AFib and not knowing it because it wasn’t going away once it was diagnosed.”
The early detection allowed Elliott to undergo a timely cardioversion procedure to restore his heart’s normal rhythm. It’s prescribed when no blood clots are present (one of the dangers of AFib is blood clots that can spread from one heart chamber to another and even to the blood stream). Elliott went home that same day, feeling nothing worse than hunger, having fasted for the procedure.
The incident serves as a powerful reminder of the potential benefits of wearable health technology. As these devices become more sophisticated and widespread, they may play an increasingly important role in early detection and prevention of serious health conditions.
‘I had absolutely no idea’
Photo: KSAT.com
Elliott, who previously underwent a kidney transplant in 1999, is no stranger to health challenges. His experience underscores the importance of regular check-ups and leveraging available technology to monitor one’s health. “I trust medical science,” Elliott stated. “Stay on top of it. Get yourself checked or make sure you’re not in AFib like I was again. I had absolutely no idea.”
The basketball star’s story has resonated beyond the sports world, drawing attention to the capabilities of smartwatches in detecting heart irregularities. Elliott has since returned to his normal activities, including golfing and preparing for his role in the Spurs’ broadcast booth.
Fan reaction took on a life of its own after his wife’s initial social media post, Elliott said in an interview with KSAT-ABC News. So she posted again reassuring followers Elliott was OK.
“Pray for his golf game, not for his heart,” Elliott quipped about his wife’s messaging.
