Samsung is bringing irregular heart rhythm notification (IHRN) to the Galaxy Watch in 13 countries this quarter.

Combined with the Health Monitor app’s blood pressure and ECG monitoring, the IHRN feature detects heart rhythms suggestive of atrial fibrillation (AFib), helping Galaxy Watch users understand their heart health more comprehensively.

The IHRN feature has been approved by the Korean Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS), following recent clearance by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). It will be introduced in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Panama and the UAE, as well as South Korea and the USA, taking the total to 13 markets.

Alongside the on-demand ECG tracking, the IHRN feature checks for irregular heart rhythms in the background and warns the user of potential AFib activity. Together with the existing blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, users can gain deeper insights into their cardiovascular health.

Since its launch in 2020, the Samsung Health Monitor app has expanded to 74 countries across the globe. Over 15 million Galaxy Watch users have kept track of their blood pressure and ECG from their wrist, gaining a better picture of their heart health by continuously monitoring and recording their blood pressure and heart rhythms.

“Cardiovascular disease remains one of the main causes of death around the world, and we’re committed to empowering our users to stay informed about their heart health by providing monitoring tools, including blood pressure measurement and irregular heart rhythm notification,” said Hon Pak, vice president at Samsung Electronics. “We’re constantly exploring new ways to help Galaxy Watch users obtain deeper insights on their health and wellness effortlessly, day and night.”

The IHRN feature will first be available on the upcoming Galaxy Watch devices later this year, as part of the new One UI 5 Watch and later expanded to previous editions.

The IHRN feature does not provide a notification on every episode of irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib and the absence of a notification does not mean no disease is present. It is not for users with other known arrhythmias.