A woman’s Apple Watch detected persistent low heart rate alerts, which ultimately led doctors to discover a benign brain tumor during subsequent medical investigations. This case highlights the potential of wearable technology in prompting early health interventions.
Sam Adams, a 57-year-old resident of Brighton, East Sussex, is the individual whose health was significantly impacted by data from her fitness tracker. She was experiencing personal challenges, including the loss of a parent, a pet, and her marriage, which she initially blamed for her symptoms.
The key event was the Apple Watch’s repeated notifications about abnormally low heart rates, which occurred after she returned from a trip to Costa Rica. Adams dismissed these alerts at first, attributing them to stress, grief, and jet lag from her travels.
The alerts began recently, following her return from Costa Rica, and the medical diagnosis was made in the past few days, with the story coming to public attention on August 21, 2025.
The situation unfolded in Brighton, UK, where Adams resides, and involved local healthcare providers, including a pharmacist and doctors who conducted the necessary tests.
The reason the Apple Watch alerts were crucial is that they provided an objective measure that contradicted Adams’ subjective assessment of her health, prompting her to seek professional medical advice despite her initial reluctance.
The process started with the heart rate alerts, led to a blood pressure check at a pharmacy, then to medical tests that identified a treatable heart condition, and finally, mention of headaches prompted a CT scan that revealed the brain tumor.
The impact of this early detection is profound; Adams is now able to manage her condition with daily medication and regular monitoring scans, potentially avoiding more severe health complications down the line.
Looking ahead, Adams will continue with her treatment plan, including ongoing scans to monitor the tumor’s status. She expresses gratitude for the technology that gave her an early warning, and this case may encourage others to pay attention to similar alerts from their devices.