Samsung Electronics announced today that the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) function of its Samsung Health Monitoring application has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This feature, combined with the app’s existing electrocardiogram (ECG) feature, can actively monitor for abnormal heart rhythms that may be atrial fibrillation (AFib) and alert users in time.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, is considered a red flag that may lead to stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular complications. However, some people with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms and are unaware of their risk. As such, the Samsung Galaxy Watch offers tools to help users better understand their heart health through Samsung’s bioactive sensors, including on-demand ECG recording and arrhythmia alerts, which can detect abnormally high or low heart rates.
After the user activates the feature in the Samsung Health Monitor app, the feature will check for abnormal heart rhythms in the background via the Galaxy Watch’s bioactive sensor. If multiple abnormalities are detected in a row, the Galaxy Watch will warn users of possible atrial fibrillation and prompt them to use the watch to take a more accurate ECG measurement.
The irregular heartbeat notification feature will be available as part of the newly launched One UI 5 Watch, first available on Galaxy Watch devices released later this year, and later expanded to previous Watch 4 series and Watch 5 series devices. This function does not replace traditional medical diagnosis, nor is it suitable for users under the age of 22 or known arrhythmias other than AFib.
