A 64-year-old California man has spoken out after his smartwatch flagged a dangerous heart rate spike during a routine gym session, leading to emergency surgery for severe coronary disease.
Raul Martin was exercising when he felt his heart begin to race. After checking his device, he discovered his heart rate had surged to 200 beats per minute. Martin, who considered himself healthy and typically walked three to five miles daily plus did resistance training, immediately recognized the danger.
“And so, there was a security guard going through the building. I grabbed him and he called the EMTs,” he said in a press release shared by El Camino Health.
Martin was rushed to the emergency room at El Camino Health in Mountain View, California, where doctors discovered he had “very severe coronary artery disease.” Rather than facing traditional open-heart surgery, Martin was offered a minimally invasive robotic alternative.
“Hey it’s like I could almost come out of this in much better shape,” Martin reflected on learning about the robotic bypass option.
Coronary artery bypass grafting ranks as the most common type of cardiac surgery worldwide, yet El Camino Health notes that less than one percent of these procedures are performed robotically. Dr. Nels Carroll performed Martin’s surgery, making three to four small incisions between the ribs with robotic assistance. This keyhole approach avoids dividing the breastbone, resulting in less pain, reduced infection risk, increased post-operation mobility, and faster discharge compared to conventional open-chest surgery.
“Cardiac surgery continues to evolve, and we are able to accomplish many of the same goals without such big incisions,” Dr. Carroll said. “Instead of dividing bones, we make several small incisions through which we provide perfect repairs. The patient doesn’t have to deal with the pain and rehabilitation process associated with open surgery.”
He continued: “Minimally invasive approach really flips the script. Much less pain, much faster recovery, much quicker return to work and activities.”
Martin’s rapid recovery demonstrated these benefits in practice. The day after surgery, he was already walking for an hour around the hospital floor.
“It was kind of funny because nobody could believe it,” he added.
Within days, Martin returned home. He expressed strong optimism about his long-term prognosis following the procedure.
“I’ve never felt better after surgery than after this surgery,” Martin shared.
He resolved: “I feel it puts me on a trajectory to be healthy from a cardiovascular point of view probably for the rest of my life.”
In the viral moment that sparked widespread attention to wearable technology’s medical potential, Martin’s smartwatch detected a heart rate that would have gone unnoticed without the device, transforming what could have been a fatal cardiac event into a success story for preventive technology and advanced surgical techniques.
Martin’s case adds to growing reports of smartwatches identifying serious health conditions wearers were unaware they had, from atrial fibrillation to coronary artery disease.