Samsung’s health app had its electrocardiogram (ECG) measuring feature cleared for use by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
The ECG feature of Samsung Health Monitor app is paired with the sensors of its Galaxy Watch Active2, the company said.
It will measure and analyze the hearty rhythms of those wearing the watch, searching for irregularities indicating atrial fibrillation (afib), Samsung said.
The app classify their heart rate and rhythm as sinus (normal) or afib after the analysis. Users can activate the feature by turing their app on, then place their finger tip on their watches for 30 seconds while seated with their watch-hand are placed on a flat surface.
Afib was the most common abnormal heart rhythm affecting around 33.5 million people globally, Samsung said, with 5 million new patients added annually.
It increases the risk of complications such as blood clots, heart failure and stroke. Over 16 million people develop a stroke a year, with afib and high blood pressure being leading causes.
The latest addition of ECG will allow users of the app to get a “better picture of their overall health,” Samsung said, sand share their results will their doctors.
The South Korean tech behemoth in April announced a blood pressure measuring function for the Galaxy Watch Active 2, which was also cleared by the Ministry.
Samsung Health Monitor will be available on the Galaxy Watch Active2 within the third quarter. Other future Watch products from the company will also get the app.
