- “Samsung Health Monitor” approved for use as a medical device in the EU
- Watch 3 and Watch Active 2 will soon offer ECG and blood pressure measurements
- App is now available for download, updates should be available on both smartwatches soon
If you own the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 or the Watch Active 2, you should definitely give the app a go. This is because if you have also updated the Tizen OS via the watch’s settings, you should then be able to gain access to the digital ECG and blood pressure monitor features. Samsung has already advertised the two features at the launch of the smartwatches, but was not able to activate them due to the lack of certification.
Signs of heart arrhythmia now detectable
To measure one’s blood pressure, the two smartwatches rely on LED sensors to measure any changes via reflected light, according to Samsung’s press release. Working in tandem with other vital statistics and reference values, it is highly likely that the readings would be rather accurate. The manufacturer also pointed out that you need to calibrate the blood pressure monitor using a blood pressure cuff every 28 days in order to make sure that everything works just fine.
The digital ECG, on the other hand, is based on electrical impulses emitted by the watch that cannot be seen with the naked eye. As with the current Apple Watch, this particular feature is said to be able to help by offering early detection of heart arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. So if the watch detects a potential problem, you can have the results looked over by a medical professional in order to better take any necessary action.
This might be a coincidence but it is still welcome: these new updates also herald Samsung Pay support on both of the smartwatches. The feature won’t be available on current Galaxy smartwatches until March 4, 2021, though, but do keep a keen eye out!