ECG: What is it and why does it matter?

You may have heard of a feature called “EKG” – also known as an EKG – that is making its way onto wearables recently. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, Apple Watch Series 6, Withings ScanWatch and others are among several smartwatches that are now equipped with an EKG sensor.

What is an EKG?

An EKG, short for electrocardiogram, is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.

With each beat, an electrical wave is sent through the heart. This causes it to contract and pump blood to the rest of the body. An EKG measures this electrical wave to determine the health of the user’s heart.

It does this by measuring the amount of electrical activity in the heart and the time between heartbeats. This can help determine if the heart’s activity is normal, slow, fast, or irregular. It can also be used to determine if parts of the heart are too large or overworked.

EKG vs EKG: is there a difference?

The only difference between EKG and EKG is the spelling of the abbreviation. EKG is an abbreviation for electrocardiogram or electrocardiograph – both English words – while EKG is an abbreviation for the German spelling of electrocardiogram. Functionally, electrocardiogram sensors and electrocardiogram sensors are exactly the same.

How does the EKG work?

In the past, this technology was only used by medical professionals to evaluate patients. Through this process, a medical technician applies ten self-adhesive electrode patches to a patient’s chest, arms, and legs. These patches connect the patient to a device that interprets and displays the heart’s electrical patterns for a doctor to evaluate. The process is very simple, completely painless and should only take about ten minutes.

If this way of doing an EKG is so simple, why does it have to be a feature of wearable technology? For starters, people with heart problems need to monitor their heart health frequently. This can sometimes be difficult if you can’t see a doctor right away. Buying a wearable with an EKG sensor can be a great way to keep track of things without making a doctor’s appointment every two weeks.

A wrist-based EKG is important under no circumstance a replacement for a professional medical EKG test. This can be helpful in certain circumstances, but you should always consult your doctor regarding heart health.

Also read: The best heart rate monitors and watches

Are there disadvantages with EKG watches?

Now that Fitbit, Apple, Withings, and other companies are adding EKG sensors to their wearables, why doesn’t every smartwatch come with one? There are a few factors as to why this is the case.

First, EKGs are certainly a niche trait in consumer wearables. If you don’t have any heart problems, you mustn’t use your wearable’s EKG more than once! Companies that make wearables know this. This is one reason why EKGs are not attached to every single smartwatch. This is likely to continue to be the case in the future.

To sell a wearable with an EKG, the sensor must get medical approval before it can be launched. In the US, EKGs must be FDA certified, while in Europe, CE approval must be granted. We saw that this approval process completely prevented devices from starting in certain regions.

The Withings ScanWatch, which was announced in January 2020, is still awaiting FDA approval in the United States, which means it couldn’t be offered for sale in that region. However, CE approval was granted early so you can buy the device in this region.

Fitbit also ran into the problem with the Fitbit Sense. The smartwatch was actually launched in the US on time, despite FDA approval a few months later. The EKG functionality was finally transferred to the watch in October 2020.

Which wearables have EKG sensors?

As mentioned earlier, more and more consumer wearables have EKG sensors. Here are some of our favorites:

Why should you buy an EKG watch?

The wrist-based EKG is primarily intended for people who for some reason need to regularly evaluate their heart patterns.

They may have an abnormal heart rhythm or atrial fibrillation (AFib) that they need to monitor. Perhaps the user has had a heart attack before and is hoping the wearable will detect anomalies before it’s too late. Perhaps their family has heart problems and this is an easy step they can take to be proactive.

If you’re reading this article because you didn’t know what an EKG / EKG was, you probably don’t always need one. However, for some of you, this functionality could be revolutionary, if only for your comfort.