The present invention provides methods and an apparatus for an adaptive physiological monitoring system ( 10 ). The physiological monitoring system incorporates a sensor ( 110 ) responsive to the physical activity of the monitor-wearing patient. The system monitors one or more physical parameter(s) of the user to distinguish between periods of quiet rest and normal waking activity and communicates non-urgent information regarding a system error or information about the measured physical parameter to the user or to an external system only if one or more physical parameters of the user exceed predetermined threshold criteria The system also suppresses alerts regarding physiological states that are inconsistent with normal patient activity if one or more physical parameters of the user exceed a predetermined threshold. The physiological monitoring system ( 10 ) incorporates a sensor ( 110 ) responsive to the physical activity level of the user, for detecting directly or indirectly measuring the physical activity level of the user.
