Garmin is one smartwatch brand that has gained the trust of hundreds and thousands of users across the globe.
Though there are many factors behind securing this trust, one of the most prominent factors is that this brand never shies away from introducing new and innovative features into its smartwatches.
Garmin, as a brand, takes users’ feedback and demands pretty seriously and tries to incorporate all the features into its products that users are asking for. The Afib feature in smartwatches is an extension of that as well.
I have always leaned toward Garmin whenever I wanted to switch to another smartwatch model or upgrade it. Although almost all the features intrigued me at the time of release, the Afib feature is the one that excited me the most.
In this guide, I will share my experience with the Afib feature in Garmin watches with you and will try to answer some of the common questions you might have regarding this feature on your Garmin smartwatch.
Is it really possible to detect Afib with a Garmin watch?
The straight and simple answer to this question is Yes. If you don’t know already, Afib is short for atrial fibrillation. This is a heart condition where the heart rate fluctuates, such as the heart can sometimes beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
Garmin smartwatches come with an ECG app that keeps track of the heartbeat person wearing the watch on his/her wrist. This way, users can detect their heart rate and keep a check on their heartbeat for Afib.
This is especially beneficial for people with a prior history of heart disease and heart-related problems in the family. Garmin is among the first few brands to make smartwatches with built-in ECG apps.
Using your Garmin watch, you cannot only track your heart rate over various intervals of time but can sync it with the mobile app and check your ECG result history for the entire week or, in some cases, the whole month.
Performing An ECG Reading On Garmin Watch
Now that you have got your answer about whether or not it’s possible to detect Afib on Garmin watches, let me take you toward the main process, where I will provide you with a step-by-step guide to perform an ECG reading using your Garmin Watch.
Here are the steps you need to follow to perform this task without much hassle:
Setting Up the ECG App
To start, you must install the ECG app and set it up on your smartphone. Here is what you need to do for this:
Head to your mobile’s Play Store/App Store.
- Find the ECG app for the Garmin Watch model you own.
- Download the app on your mobile phone.
- Once the app is installed, open it.
- Tap the Image of your Smartwatch model at the top of the screen.
- Select the “Finish Setup” option.
- Now, hit the “Set Up ECG app” option on your mobile’s screen.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and prompts to complete the setup.
Performing an ECG Reading
After successfully setting up the ECG app on your smartphone, here are the steps required to follow to perform your first ECG reading on your device.
- Press your Garmin watch’s “Power” button to wake it up.
- Now, head to the apps section and select the “ECG” app on your watch.
- Don’t forget to tie the watch around your wrist.
- Hit the “Green Tick” on the watch face.
- Put your index finger and thumb around the watch and wait for 30 seconds till it takes your ECG reading.
- Once the process is completed, the results of the ECG reading will appear before you.
- For an in-depth review and analysis of your results, go to the “Head Stats” section and open the ECG section on the ECG app on your smartphone.
You have successfully performed an ECG reading on your Garmin watch.
Is the Garmin Afib Accurate/Precise?
At this point, you have covered users’ main concerns about Afib detection on Garmin watches. But another thing many users care for is the accuracy of the ECG results on the watch.
Well, frankly, the Garmin smartwatch manufacturers never claim that their results would be as accurate as those presented by professional tools.
These watches signal when your heart rate drops or goes beyond a threshold. This way, you can judge what affects your heart health the most, allowing you to keep yourself away from it.
Is It Possible to Detect Irregular Heartbeat on Garmin Watches?
Yes, the latest Garmin watch models come with this feature, where they will start giving you notifications when there is an unexpected increase or decrease in your heartbeat. This allows you to keep an eye on the irregular rhythmic track of your heart and monitor your heart health well.
Which Garmin Watch Model Comes With ECG Functionality?
When it comes to ECG functionality, Garmin Venu Plus 2 is the first ever Garmin watch to be released with this feature.
This took the stake of Garmin watches too high, and in no time, users started trusting this brand whenever they had to buy affordable and high-quality smartwatches.
I hope this guide has answered all your questions regarding the Afib detection on Garmin watches, and now that you know how this process works, you will probably be able to perform it efficiently in the future.
