

'I Tried The Apple Watch’s New ECG Feature'

Two words: life-saving.

Elizabeth Bacharach

As Women's Health's health editor, I've been geeking out over the new health and fitness features of the Apple Watch Series 4 since it came out in September. But two of the most exciting—an app that can take an on-demand ECG (electrocardiogram) readings and a irregular-heartbeat alert—didn't launch until today as a part of a free update to watchOS 5.1.2. I got a sneak peek of these functions ahead of their public rollout, and guys, they're seriously game-changing.

Apple Watch Series 4
Apple amazon.com



Taking an ECG reading with the watch is incredibly easy. Just launch the ECG app and hold your finger to the digital crown. It only takes 30 seconds and the ability to sit still; fidgeting—or as I discovered, trying to take a reading on a jostling bus—will mess up the results.

Elizabeth Bacharach

I ran the test a few times (in the name of journalism; there's no real need to test unless your heart is thumping or fluttering). My heart felt fine, so I wasn't surprised that the watch showed I was in Sinus (a.k.a. normal) Rhythm. Reassuring!

Elizabeth Bacharach


Courtesy of Apple﻿Apple

I also would have gotten a PDF of the results in the Health app to share with my doctor—because you can bet I would've panicked and called her, ASAP.






The irregular heart rhythm notification functionality is available in Series 1 watches or later, using the same sensor that picks up your pulse during a workout. But in case you're wondering, simply having an elevated heart rate during your sweat sesh won't cause an alert. This tool is for collecting data about your heart health, not how hard you're crushing it at the gym or on a run. For that, you're going to want to just keep using the heart rate monitor function.


This is why the watch can only detect AFib, not other heart health issues, like heart attack or stroke. Meaning: You shouldn't make the watch your de facto cardiologist, just her assistant. And if your heart rate is rapid or feels irregular but the watch doesn't pick it up, you should still get checked out by an M.D. immediately.



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