Heaptalk, Jakarta — Garmin, a wearable gear brand, has equipped its latest Fenix 8 Series with an electrocardiogram (ECG) health feature. This ECG app is designed to help users easily monitor their heart rhythm through a smartwatch.
An electrocardiogram is a medical test that checks the heart’s electrical activity to detect abnormalities in heart rhythm. It measures the time between heartbeats and looks for abnormal patterns, such as atrial fibrillation (AFib), which could indicate serious heart health issues.
This technology is typically available only in medical facilities, but now the brand brings the ECG feature directly to users’ wrists. The ECG app on the Fenix 8 Series smartwatch offers several benefits for heart health monitoring, including abnormal heart rhythm detection, convenient daily tracking, and stored health records.
The Indonesian Ministry of Health has approved this smartwatch’s electrocardiogram feature. This health app uses special sensors on compatible Garmin watches to record the user’s heart’s electrical signals. The app records the electrical signals that control the heart’s beats and analyzes these recordings to detect potential signs of AFib.
Displaying heart rate and health status
“The presence of the ECG app in the Fenix 8 Series and several other compatible Garmin smartwatches allows users to monitor their heart health and take immediate action if necessary. The smartwatch sensor will record the electrical signals controlling the user’s heartbeat and analyze the recordings to provide conclusions about the presence of AFib,” stated Chandrawidhi Desideriani, Marcom Senior Manager of Garmin Indonesia.
After the measurement, the smartwatch will display options for users to input any symptoms they may be experiencing, such as rapid heartbeat, skipped heartbeat, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain, fainting, and dizziness. The results are then immediately shown on the screen.
Users can view heart rate data, heart rhythm, and heart health status. If the result shows Sinus Rhythm, the heart rhythm is normal. Meanwhile, AFib indicates a heart rhythm disorder. Other possible results include heartbeats that are too high or low and Inconclusive, which means the results are uncertain.
Like similar apps, this feature is not intended to diagnose heart health conditions definitively. The app also cannot detect heart attacks. For a more detailed analysis, doctors usually use multi-lead ECG devices that offer a more complete and accurate picture of the heart’s condition.
