FDA clears Fitbit devices to get passive heart rhythm detection for AFib

[phillynewsnow]

FDA clears Fitbit devices to get passive heart rhythm detection for AFib



Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

• The FDA has cleared Fitbit heart rhythm detection for monitoring atrial fibrillation (AFib) problems.
• The tool will work in the background removing the need for manual testing.
• Fitbit would not disclose which devices would receive the feature or when it would arrive.

Higher-end Fitbit devices have electrocardiogram (ECG) tools. This allows you to manually run an ECG and check out your heart rhythm. If you do enough manual testing, you can spot irregularities that could help save your life.

However, needing to run manual tests isn’t super helpful. That’s why it’s good news that the FDA has cleared passive Fitbit heart rhythm monitoring. This will allow Fitbit products to run heart rhythm tests in the background and give you a heads up on issues related to atrial fibrillation (AFib). People who are experiencing AFib problems are at a higher risk of stroke.



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