Smart watches have become everyday companions that not only tell us the time, but also track our physical activity and health. Many of these devices offer the ability to perform electrocardiograms (ECG), but are they really reliable? Can they provide accurate results?
The first step in evaluating the reliability of a smartwatch, according to Hard Zone, is to verify if it measures heart rate correctly. This is critical, as if pulse measurements are inaccurate, the reliability of any ECG generated by the device is compromised. To do this, we can simply measure our heart rate manually and compare it with what the watch shows.
Once we confirm that the watch offers accurate pulse measurements, we can move on to the ECG. The report adds an example of the Apple Watch Series 8, considered one of the best in this category. Depending on the device, No heart problems were detected in the test carried out on the volunteer.
Is this example enough to make us feel safe with a smart watch? An expert gave his opinion on whether we are completely safe from suffering a heart attack.
Yes but no
The aforementioned media consulted a specialist doctor from the Health Service of the Principality of Asturias (SESPA). He states that measuring a device like The Apple Watch is real and, based on the ECG image provided, it could detect a heart attack, since the waves are clear and cannot be generated fictitiously.. However, there is an important detail to consider.
What the watch is measuring is the activity in the specific location of the arm it is on, whether left or right. This does not mean that we are safe from heart problems in other parts of the body. Traditional ECGs use 12 leads to provide a more complete picture of the heart.
Therefore, we can trust the device to tell us if we are experiencing a heart problem in the location where we wear the watch, but we cannot be sure that we are free of heart problems in other areas of the heart.
Some doctors have explored the possibility of performing a full ECG at home using a smartwatch, but this technique is still in its infancy and may not be practical in emergency situations. The reality is that although devices like the Apple Watch can generate a lead quite similar to a traditional ECG, their usefulness in preventing heart problems in different parts of the heart is limited.