Apple Watches are some of the best fitness trackers available at the moment. The Apple Watch Series 4 is no exception to that rule, with its refreshed design and new health tracking features. It is quick to grab our attention but the feature that appealed most has to be its ECG tracking capabilities.
No one could have imagined we could be able to have an ECG feature on the wrist of our hands. Well, Apple did just that and soon after the release of ECG app on the Apple Watch Series 4, it has alerted many users about possible heart problems. There are also some reports, of a user who claims his life was saved due to the Apple Watch’s warnings. We try to understand what this feature is all about.
How does the ECG feature works?
The Apple Watch Series 4 monitors an ECG signals similar to the method used on bigger machines found in hospitals. A standard ECG machine usually takes readings from 12 different points to monitor electrical signals produced by a heartbeat. The ECG app on the Apple Watch Series 4 works in a similar manner, but uses only a single recording point. There are obvious limitations of having a single recording point so it definitely isn’t a replacement to your doctor or hospital. The ECG app on the Apple Watch cannot detect heart attacks, blood clots or strokes. If you ever experience chest pain, pressure or what you think is a heart attack, call emergency services immediately.
There are also other conditions like high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and forms of arrhythmia which the Apple Watch fails to detect.
How to use the ECG app
Make sure you have downloaded the ECG app on your Apple Watch from the WatchOS store. This app records an electrocardiogram which represents electrical pulses produced by your heart. It also checks these pulses to measure your heart rate and verify whether the upper and lower chambers are beating in rhythm. All you need to have is an Apple Watch Series 4 installed with the ECG app paired with your iPhone (5s or higher).
Once the devices are paired, snugly fit the Apple Watch on your hand and open the ECG app on the Watch. Rest your hands on a table and hold your finger on the digital crown. You don’t need to press the Digital Crown during the session. These recordings usually take around 30 seconds, and the final readings get automatically synced with the paired iPhone. All the information stored can be found in Apple’s Health app which comes pre-installed with the latest iOS update.
How to get the best results
- To get the most accurate readings, make sure your hands are resting on a table and your body maintains a relaxed posture.
- Make sure your Apple Watch isn’t loose on your wrist. The back of the device need to be in proper contact with your skin to get accurate readings.
- Make sure your wrist and Apple Watch are clean and dry.
- Move away from any other electronic devices that are plugged into outlets to avoid electrical interferences.
The ECG feature on the Apple Watch Series 4 is truly amazing and it’s only the beginning. If you are an athlete and undergo rigorous workouts, this can be a great way to track your heart’s health. This can also be a good feature for those with medical history of heart related problems. The Apple Watch periodically scans and gathers heart data which is synced with the Apple Health app. This data can prove helpful to doctors for better diagnosis.
