Samsung Galaxy watch detected atrial fibrillation before doctors discovered serious heart problems

One warning you’ll find with every piece of wearable consumer technology, including smartwatches, is that they are not medical devices. They are designed to monitor vital signs and health statistics. They can also detect abnormalities that might prompt you to see a medical professional and investigate further. But for one young man, his Samsung Galaxy smartwatch played a role in literally saving his life. Joseph Holycross was not feeling well and when he checked the data on his Galaxy Watch, the results prompted him to go straight to the hospital where he eventually had to undergo open heart surgery.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard such stories: Apple often shows similar personal stories from Apple Watch users at its product and software launch events. You’ll hear users explain how different types of alerts helped them realize something was wrong well before they had confirmation from a medical professional. But Holycross’s story will hit you straight, given the urgency of his situation and the importance of the smartwatch in helping him deal with it. History lends credence to the fact that while features like ECG and AFib detection in smartwatches are not a replacement for medical devices, they serve a worthy purpose.

Holycross said he wasn’t feeling well, but he attributed his racing heart rate to being exhausted from work, raising four children and consuming too much coffee. But at the request of his wife, when she noticed that he also seemed out of breath, he took an ECG reading with his Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. This is an older model of Samsung’s smartwatch for which, ironically, software support has only just ended. A warning popped up saying he was suffering from atrial fibrillation. From there, the 39-year-old repeated the test several times before going to the emergency room. After a week of tests, he learned he needed surgery. Additionally, he was also told that if he had not gone, he could have had a stroke or heart attack and might not have lived to be 45 without prompt intervention to correct the problem.

Holycross says doctors were impressed by the watch’s accuracy in detecting atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to stroke, heart attack and even heart failure. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch is one of several smartwatches that can check heart rate 24/7 and send warnings if abnormalities, like atrial fibrillation, are detected. To take a reading, open the Samsung Health app, go to the ECG section and place your finger on the watch’s sensor. Stay still for about 30 seconds. The process is also similar with other models. The watch uses electrical signals to record your heart rate and advanced algorithms to check for irregularities. In the case of Holycross, it was determined that something was wrong.

ECG readings are supported on Samsung Galaxy Watches dating back, interestingly enough, to the Galaxy Watch 4 that Holycross owns. This is the first device in the range to benefit from this functionality. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 also received this update in 2020, and all the latest Galaxy Watches released since then have included it. You won’t find ECG in every smartwatch from every brand. Most entry-level models come with optical heart rate sensors rather than ECG heart rate monitors. But virtually all high-end models today include ECG among their features, provided they have received regulatory approval in the countries in which they are sold.

Given the requirement for regulatory approval, the ECG in smartwatches is generally quite accurate, as demonstrated by Holycross’s experience. That said, the functionality still has limitations. It is not always accurate and cannot detect all heart conditions since it is a single-lead ECG with an electrode under the face versus a 12-lead ECG which is more accurate. It can also produce erroneous data. Fortunately, in Holycross’s case, he made the right choice by considering both the data and the symptoms he was experiencing.

Connected watches are, once again, not intended for diagnosis. But as this situation proves, the ECG function of smartwatches can be an invaluable tool. While you can benefit from a smartwatch for notifications and workout tracking, it can do so much more. This includes tracking metrics and sending alerts that can prompt you to dig deeper and see if anything is wrong.