That’s how Roberto Gallart describes his health on the pivotal day his Galaxy Watch6 alerted him to a life-threatening heart condition. A single notification prompted him to seek help — a decision that ultimately saved his life.

Gallart’s story is one of many showing how Galaxy Watch goes beyond expectations — detecting hidden health risks, supporting preventive care and providing insights that can guide life-saving action when it matters most. Samsung Newsroom shares stories from users whose lives were saved thanks to Galaxy Watch.

Jordan: Irregular Heart Rhythm Feature Detects a Silent Heart Condition

Dr. Ahmad Sharadgah, a Galaxy Watch Ultra user in Jordan, felt perfectly healthy when his new smartwatch began sending multiple irregular heart rhythm notification (IHRN)¹ alerts. Despite having no symptoms, the repeated warnings convinced him to go to the hospital — a life-changing decision.

Doctors discovered advanced atherosclerosis,² a serious heart condition requiring immediate treatment. Without his smartwatch, the condition might have gone unnoticed.

“Thanks to the alerts from my watch, I was able to take action before it was too late,” he said. “Galaxy Watch Ultra not only saved my life but also spared my family from what could have been a devastating tragedy. I’m profoundly grateful.”

Brazil: ECG Feature Helps Detect a Hidden Heart Risk

Let’s return to Gallart, a regular at his local gym in Rio de Janeiro. One day, during his usual workout, a sudden pain shot through his chest.

Startled, he checked the electrocardiogram (ECG) feature³ on his Galaxy Watch6 and noticed four “Inconclusive heart rhythm” readings from that day.

Gallart rushed to the hospital, where doctors found one of his main coronary arteries completely blocked and the other two critically narrowed. Without immediate treatment, his life was at risk.

“I was on the verge of a heart attack and could have collapsed at any moment,” he said. “The ECG feature was instrumental in saving my life. Without its warning, I may not have sought help in time.”

Korea: Blood Oxygen Feature Assists in Mid-Flight Medical Emergency

On a flight from Las Vegas to Seoul, a passenger was found unconscious and unresponsive in his seat. Fortunately, Dr. Jongmo Seo, a medical professor at Seoul National University Hospital, was on board and able to help.

Medical equipment was limited at 30,000 feet, but assistance came from an unexpected source — a Galaxy Watch worn by a flight attendant.

Using Galaxy Watch’s blood oxygen (SpO2) feature,⁴ Dr. Seo monitored the passenger’s oxygen saturation and pulse in real time. Determining whether the patient’s brain was receiving enough oxygen was the top priority. Guided by the data, he administered emergency care until the passenger regained consciousness and stabilized.

“Without Galaxy Watch, my ability to respond would have been much more limited,” Dr. Seo said. “Having access to real-time data allowed me to guide the emergency response more effectively.”

Innovation Built on Trust and Everyday Health Insights

Every day, people like Gallart, Sharadgah and Dr. Seo use their Galaxy smartwatches to take charge of their well-being — tracking workouts, sleep, nutrition and more. Their trust in Galaxy Watch drives Samsung’s commitment to develop technology that is personal, powerful and there when people need it most.

“We aim to help more people live healthier lives through our technology,” said Jongmin Choi, Head of Health H/W R&D Group, Mobile eXperience, Samsung Electronics. “It’s deeply rewarding to know that Galaxy Watches are saving lives in critical moments. We’ll continue to create innovations that truly make a difference for people everywhere.”

1. The Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature monitors for irregular heart rhythms in the background while the Galaxy Watch is being worn. ︎
2. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which fats, cholesterol and other substances build up in and on the artery walls, restricting blood flow and potentially leading to serious complications. ︎
3. The electrocardiogram feature requires manual activation. Users must place a finger on the home button to record a 30-second reading. ︎
4. The blood oxygen feature uses an optical sensor to estimate blood oxygen levels when the smartwatch is worn snugly on the wrist and the user remains still. ︎

Samsung Electronics today announced that the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) feature¹ on the Samsung Health Monitor app² will soon be available in 13 markets starting this summer. Combined with the app’s Blood Pressure³ and Electrocardiogram (ECG)⁴ 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 and Drug Safety (MFDS) last week, following recent clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It will also be introduced in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Panama, UAE, as well as Korea and the U.S., 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 Rate⁵ monitoring, users can gain even deeper insights into their cardiovascular health.

Since the launch in 2020, the Samsung Health Monitor app has expanded to 74 markets⁶ across the globe. Over 15 million Galaxy Watch users have kept track of their blood pressure and ECG right 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 and Head of Digital Health Team, MX Business 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 Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification 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.⁷

¹ The IHRN feature is not intended to provide a notification on every episode of irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib and the absence of a notification is not intended to indicate no disease process is present. It is not intended for users with other known arrhythmias.
² Availability may vary by market or device. Due to market restrictions in obtaining approval/registration as a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), it only works on watches and smartphones purchased in the markets where service is currently available (however, service may be restricted when users travel to non-service markets). This app can only be used for measuring in ages 22 and over.
³ The Blood Pressure feature is only available in select markets. To ensure accuracy, users should calibrate their device every four weeks with a traditional blood pressure cuff. The BP feature cannot diagnose hypertension, other conditions or check for signs of a heart attack. It is not meant to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.
⁴ The ECG feature is only available in select markets. It is not intended to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment. The feature is not intended for users with known arrhythmias other than AFib. Users should not interpret or take clinical action based on the device output without consultation of a qualified healthcare professional.
⁵ Supported via Samsung Health app. The feature is intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition or disease. Availability may vary by market or device.
⁶ Available in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mayotte, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norfolk Island, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,  Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, U.K., Ukraine, UAE, U.S., Venezuela and Vietnam.
⁷ Availability may vary by market, carrier, model or a paired smartphone. Available on Galaxy Watch4 series and later models.

Samsung Electronics today announced that the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) feature¹ of the Samsung Health Monitor app² has received FDA clearance. Together with the app’s existing on-demand Electrocardiogram (ECG) function,³ the IHRN feature proactively monitors heart rhythms suggestive of atrial fibrillation (AFib), right from their wrist.

“We’re excited to announce that Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification, designed to help millions of people around the world who may not be aware of a potential heart risk, has been cleared by the FDA,” said Hon Pak, Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics. “This is yet another example of how Samsung prioritizes proactive safety solutions and enables users to receive a more holistic understanding of their cardiovascular and overall health.”

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the world’s leading causes of death and AFib — a type of arrhythmia — is widely considered a warning sign for major cardiovascular issues that can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular complications. Moreover, some of AFib cases are asymptomatic or even silent, leaving people unaware of their risk.

That’s why Galaxy Watch offers tools to help users better understand their heart health using the Samsung BioActive Sensor, including on-demand ECG recording and HR Alert function⁴ that detects abnormally high or low heart rates. The addition of the new IHRN feature enables Galaxy Watch users to monitor another aspect of their health.

Once activated in the Samsung Health Monitor app, the feature will check for irregular heart rhythms in the background via Galaxy Watch’s BioActive Sensor. If a certain number of consecutive measurements are irregular, Galaxy Watch warns the user of potential AFib activity, prompting them to take an ECG using their watch for a more accurate measurement.

The Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature will be available as part of the newly announced One UI 5 Watch, coming first to the upcoming Galaxy Watch devices later this year and later expanding to previous editions.⁵

¹ The IHRN feature is not intended to provide a notification on every episode of irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib and the absence of a notification is not intended to indicate no disease process is present. It is not intended for users with other known arrhythmias or users under 22 years old.
² Due to market restrictions in obtaining approval/registration as a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), it only works on watches and smartphones purchased in the markets where service is currently available (however, service may be restricted when users travel to non-service countries).
³ The ECG app is only available in select markets. The ECG app is not intended to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment. The ECG app is not intended for users with known arrhythmias other than AFib or users under 22 years old. Users should not interpret or take clinical action based on the device output without consultation of a qualified healthcare professional.
⁴ The HR Alert function is for general health and wellness purposes and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.
⁵ Availability may vary by market, carrier, model or a paired smartphone. Available on Galaxy Watch4 series and later models.