The integration of health-focused features, such as electrocardiograms, in smartwatches and fitness trackers has become a common trend among manufacturers. Samsung, for instance, has already incorporated various health-tracking features into its Galaxy Watch 5. However, with the recent approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for irregular heart rhythm notifications (IHRN) via the Health Monitor app, the company’s upcoming Galaxy Watch 6 is set to elevate its health monitoring capabilities further.
This feature enables the device to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) at all times, enhancing its ability to keep a vigilant eye on the user’s heart activity.
In a blog post, Samsung announced that the IHRN feature will be integrated into One UI 5 Watch, a new smartwatch operating system that will be available as a future update to existing Galaxy Watch models. It’s worth noting that the Apple Watch Series 8 already supports this functionality. Samsung’s Health Monitor app will leverage the BioActive sensor on Galaxy Watch models to monitor heart activity continuously. Once an irregular heartbeat pattern is detected, the device will notify the user to get an electrocardiogram for more precise measurement.
While Samsung is not the first company to offer IHRN functionality, this development is a significant step towards expanding the role of smartwatches in promoting health and wellness. The company has not yet disclosed when older Galaxy Watch models will receive the One UI 5 Watch update, but it is likely to be available later this year.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the most recent news, reviews, and tech guides.
