Samsung Galaxy Watches to Integrate Irregular Heart Rate Warnings with ECG

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In a breakthrough for wearable health technology, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced a new feature for its Galaxy Watches – the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) feature.

This is set to complement the existing Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, helping users to track abnormal heart rhythms and gain deeper insights into their heart health. The IHRN feature works in the background, checking for irregular heart rhythms and alerting the user to potential atrial fibrillation (AFib) activity. This feature, combined with the existing Heart Rate monitor, will offer users more comprehensive insights into their cardiovascular health.

Since its launch in 2020, the Samsung Health Monitor app has expanded its services to 74 markets across the globe. Over 15 million Galaxy Watch users have been able to keep track of their ECG right from their wrist, contributing to a better understanding of their heart health by continuously monitoring and recording their heart rhythms.

“Cardiovascular disease remains one of the main causes of death around the world, and we’re committed to empowering our users to stay informed about their heart health by providing monitoring tools,” said Hon Pak, Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re constantly exploring new ways to help Galaxy Watch users obtain deeper insights on their health and wellness effortlessly, day and night”.

The IHRN feature has been approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) last week, following recent clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It will soon be available in 13 markets, including Argentina, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Panama, UAE, Korea, and the US. Though still, the ECG, BP and now this IHRN feature is not available in India offically and only works through a mod workaround which you can find on XDA forum.

The new feature will make its debut on the upcoming Galaxy Watch devices later this year as part of the new One UI 5 Watch. The company has plans to expand this feature to previous editions of the Galaxy Watch as well, broadening its reach and accessibility.