Now you can get accurate ECG readings from your wrists after the feature launches in more countries around the world.
Samsung’s latest FDA-approved ECG smartwatches allowing seniors for more accurate heart readings. The watch had a sensor when it first launched, but Samsung had to wait for regulatory approvals for users to turn on the feature. It is currently released in Europe, the United States, and Korea, and is being distributed in Japan, India, and many more countries.
What does an ECG Smartwatche do?
ECG allows users to measure heart rhythm, which can help detect a heart irregularity known as atrial fibrillation. However, it does not detect other heart health problems, such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, or blood clots. If you want a deeper breakdown of what it is, we have a pretty comprehensive guide to atrial fibrillation and wearables that you should read.
This is really important. You must have a Samsung smartphone to use this feature. Samsung’s smartwatches are compatible with Android phones and iPhones, but require access to software that is only available on Samsung smartphones running Android 7.0 or higher.
How to set up ECG on Samsung Galaxy Watch?
- The first thing you need to do is prepare to do a small software update on the phone app and the watch as a whole. So keep both apps close by.
- Go to the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app on your phone paired with your smartwatch. Go to the home screen and scroll down to View Software Updates. Tap to select.
- Choose the Download and Install option. This will ensure that you are using the latest software update that adds ECG support. Update details will let you know if the correct update is available.
- Once your phone and apps are up to date, your next update task is to go to the Samsung Galaxy App Store, search for the Samsung Health app and see if you have the latest version. If you are given an update option, you will know if you haven’t updated it.
- Once done, go back to the Galaxy App Store and download the Samsung Health Monitor phone app as well.
- On the main screen, swipe the clock left to scroll through all widgets currently in use + when you get to the widgets screen, you can swipe to see widgets you can add. Scroll until you see ECG Only and tap the screen to add it.
How to read ECG on Samsung Galaxy Watch?
After navigating above, on the next screen select the wrist you are wearing your watch on. Open the Samsung Health Monitor app on your watch and select ECG. Make sure the watch fits snugly on your wrist. You will be prompted to swipe your finger over the button in the upper-right corner of your watch.
For best readings, you should do this for 30 seconds, best not to move during that time. When reading is complete, the classification is displayed. It also comes with an average heart rate reading and the ability to add any additional symptoms you may experience.
Tap Done to sync your readings with the Samsung Health Monitor app. Return to the Samsung Health Monitor app on your phone to view the data.
In which country does ECG support?
Like Apple and Fitbit, to turn on that ECG feature, Samsung had to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals in the country it deems fit to perform the kind of measurement that could reliably provide insight into health. In South Korea, Samsung’s homeland, a health monitor app that unlocks the ECG function has been approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It has also been approved by the US FDA.
In Europe, it has also received the most important CE marking, allowing it to be used in 28 countries. These countries are Switzerland, UK, Spain, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Iceland, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Belgium, Slovenia, and Sweden.
There are also plans to turn on the ECG function in the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Chile. Once you have the correct Samsung smartwatch, phone, and are in a country that supports ECG, it’s time to figure out how to set it up.
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