Samsung today announced that the irregular heart rhythm notification feature for the Galaxy Watch has been cleared by the FDA. In conjunction with the Galaxy Watch’s electrocardiogram (ECG) function, the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature monitors heart rhythms that indicate atrial fibrillation.
Once activated in the Samsung Health Monitor app, the feature checks for irregular heart rhythms in the background through the Galaxy Watch’s BioActive Sensor. If a certain number of consecutive readings are irregular, the smartwatch will alert the user to possible AFib activity and ask them to take an EKG with their watch for a more accurate reading.
Image Credits: Samsung
The Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature will be available as part of the recently announced One UI 5 Watch, which will be available for the first time on the upcoming Galaxy Watch devices later this year and will be extended to earlier editions later. By comparison, Apple’s smartwatches have offered an irregular rhythm notification feature since 2018.
“We are pleased to announce that the Irregular Heart Rhythm Reporting, designed to help millions of people around the world who may be unaware of a potential heart risk, has been cleared by the FDA,” said Hon Pak, vice president and head of Samsung Electronics’ Digital Health Team, in a press release. “This is yet another example of how Samsung is prioritizing proactive safety solutions and empowering users to gain a more holistic understanding of their cardiovascular and overall health.”
Samsung notes that the feature is not intended to notify you every episode of an irregular rhythm reminiscent of AFib. The tech giant further explains that the absence of a report is not intended to indicate that there is no disease process. The feature is not intended for users with other known arrhythmias or users under the age of 22.
The Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature joins the current health features of the Galaxy Watch that utilize the BioActive Sensor, including the on-demand ECG recording and HR Alert feature that detects abnormally high or low heart rates.