ECG measurements are now officially available on the Fitbit Sense smartwatch in Canada, the U.S., and New Zealand, allowing wearers to take an on-the-spot electrocardiogram to assess heart rhythm and look for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib).
While this does not make the smartwatch a medical device – you should always consult a doctor if you have any questions or concerns – this feature can come in handy to keep track of vitals and look for signs of problems you might wish to address with your doctor at the next visit.
To take an ECG measurement, first go to the Discover tab in the Fitbit app and scroll down to Assessments & Reports. select Heart Rhythm Assessment to get details and follow the on-screen instructions. Go to the Watch screen and scroll to ECG. You will be prompted to sit down and place your thumb and index finger on the metal on either side of the watch face. Keep steady and hold them there for 30 seconds while a measurement is taken. The results will then be displayed on the screen.
In addition to ECG measurements, Fitbit is also now offering free access to view weekly trends in the Health Metrics dashboard for all users of the Sense, Versa 3, Versa 2, Inspire 2, and Charge 4 devices, including Sense and Versa 3 owners who also got this access late last year.
If you own a Fitbit Sense, for example, this shows graphs of your breathing rate, heart rate variability (HRV), skin temperature, oxygen saturation (Sp02), and resting heart rate (RHR) over the last seven days along with your most recent reading. This, says Fitbit, can help users visualize fluctuations in their typical range for each metric. With the Fitbit Premium subscription, which is on for a free six-month trial ($13.49/mo. thereafter), you can get 30 days of health metrics data along with other features like stress management analytics, guided EDA sessions, and advanced sleep score analysis.
Additionally, Fitbit will be adding free on-wrist Sp02 readings for Fitbit Charge 4 devices along with Sp02 and skin temperature data in the Health Metrics dashboard.
Google officially completed its acquisition of Fitbit last month. In 2019, Google announced its intention to acquire Fitbit for US$2.1 billion.