Garmin is the latest company to offer its users the ability to take an EKG measurement from their wrist. The company is launching a new one ECG app which allows users to record their heart rhythm and check for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), the company said announced on Tuesday.
The app, the company’s first FDA-cleared smartwatch feature, is available for the Venu 2 Plus in the United States. Garmin plans to add support for more devices and regions in the future, noting that these plans require further regulatory approval.
Users can use the app to record a 30-second EKG and view their heart rate results directly on the watch or later in the Garmin Connect app. When users take an EKG, the new app uses sensors on the Venu 2 Plus to record the electrical signals that determine how their heart beats. The EKG app then analyzes that recording to detect signs of AFib. For context, AFib rhythms occur when the upper and lower chambers of your heart beat out of sync.
Image Credits: Garmin
Users can also sync their results with Garmin Connect, which allows users to view their history of ECG results and create reports that can be shared with a healthcare provider.
“The ECG app is Garmin’s first FDA-cleared smartwatch feature and we are excited to bring this revolutionary tool to our customers as another way to stay on top of their health,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales, in a press release. “During the early stages of AFib, it is common for symptoms to be infrequent, making it difficult to detect in a clinical setting. With the new ECG app, Venu 2 Plus customers can easily record an EKG at any time and optionally create a report of their results to share with their doctor later.”
As with other similar apps, Garmin’s EKG app isn’t a diagnostic tool and is instead seen as a way to gain a little more insight into your health. Smartwatches from Google, Fitbit, Apple, Samsung and Withings have offered ECG features for some time now, so Garmin’s new ECG app is a welcome addition to the Venu 2 Plus.
