Samsung Watch3’s ECG Feature Gets FDA Nod

Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch3 has received FDA clearance for its ECG tracking feature. This means that Apple no longer has the market to itself. The Food and Drugs Administration’s ‘approval’ provides significant weightage to the legitimacy of a health feature. And as such, the Watch3 can now provide you with beneficial medical data.

This on-demand electrocardiogram (ECG) function is now available in the US to Watch3 and Watch Active2 users. Through the use of the Health Monitor app on compatible smartphones, these Samsung smartwatches can monitor heart rhythm for irregularities such as Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). The data can then be sent to health professional for further analysis.

Accessing this function is relatively easy. First, make sure that your watch is fitted snugly on your wrist and that your arm is resting on a flat surface. Then, open the ECG Monitor app and beginning the measuring process. Once done, the app will let you know if you have a Sinus Rhythm or AFib.

Besides this, the Watch3 can also record your oxygen saturation levels, which can provide an indication as to how well your respiratory system is functioning. However, this data should be taken with a pinch of salt because its accuracy hasn’t been proven to be medically accurate. But it’s still a tool that could help you gauge your overall fitness and wellbeing.

But that’s not all that the Watch3 can do, it can also measure your sleep, by measuring breathing, vitals, and REM cycles throughout the night, then use an algorithm to score your rest for the evening. Each morning, users can view a detailed report and receive tips on how to improve their sleeping patterns.