The world of gadgets has developed a lot since the low-cost activity trackers and simple notification displays, in addition to step counting, GPS training tracking, training tips and analysis, VO2Max value and regeneration time, blood oxygen saturation and heart rate measurement, stress and sleep monitoring, breathing exercises, skin temperature measurement and such built-in devices with its support, such as a smart scale or a blood pressure monitor – the Huawei Watch D is also capable of the latter independently.
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THE Huawei Health mobile application and service has simultaneously developed from movement tracking to a healthy lifestyle management system, in addition to numerous plug-ins with individual and community goals, tips and advice, which is now joined in 33 countries by EKG and arterial vessel wall stiffness detection, having passed the CE certificate of the European Union, making the measurement available on the Watch GT 3 Pro owners, including European users. To access the two related watch apps, you just need to update the software, read the important information and confirm the permissions to start the measurement.
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Electrocardiography is not a new thing, for decades it has been an important diagnostic tool for recording changes in the electrical voltage generated during the contraction of the heart muscle, it was only performed by larger instruments instead of products that can be attached to the wrist, and then by smaller, but still separate devices. Nowadays, however, this is also becoming an essential watch function above a certain price level, and although the Watch GT 3 Pro with its TruSeen 5.0+ heart rate monitor and PVD-coated electrode on the back is still not a medical device, it is therefore not suitable for diagnosis, it can filter out sinus rhythm problems and recognize AFib, or atrial fibrillation symptoms, by recording irregular atrial electrical activity. It is important that it is not suitable for the detection of stroke, heart failure and other heart problems, and the measurements should only be carried out in accordance with medical regulations, just as the doctor should be consulted in the same way in case of signs of a heart complaint. The watch is still an aid that can provide important clues.
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For ECG measurement, the strap must be pulled tightly around the wrist, and the arm must be placed horizontally on the table top, while the lower button must be completely covered with the index finger of the other hand, the watch will do the rest in 30 seconds. With even breathing and stable contact, the test always comes together, and the heart rate is also displayed in addition to the graphic drawing of the sinus rhythm. After the measurement, Health, which also syncs to the cloud, indicates that the sinus rhythm seems normal, that the algorithm may have detected a problem, or that the measurement is unclear, which should be repeated by following the steps above. Based on expert advice, Huawei recommends regular weekly ECG measurements to prevent heart disease, and of course avoiding overtime, going to bed late, excessive alcohol consumption and other activities that endanger heart health.
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With its photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensors, the watch is also able to detect arterial vessel wall stiffness, which is also called vascular elastic mass. Increased stiffness is a sign of arterial damage and an increased risk of related heart disease, so it’s good to pay attention to that as well. The watch measures pulse wave propagation velocity (PWV) in the blood vessels, where a higher velocity usually indicates stiffer arteries and a lower velocity indicates more flexible arteries. Under 8 m/s we can talk about a normal value, the maintenance of which depends on the diet and, of course, many other health factors. A speed between 8-10 m/s is somewhat stiff, i.e. the arteries have lost their elasticity, and above 10 m/s we can speak of stiff arteries. At least at the age of 38, because the range of normal values changes with age.
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This measurement also does not trigger a doctor’s visit or is suitable for establishing a diagnosis, but if we measure high speeds and our PWV values show an upward trend over time, we should definitely contact our family doctor. In any case, there is nothing to be despised when a person visits their doctor and shares their body data measured on their wrists and accessories, and Health skillfully collects them and plots them either individually or in multi-year breakdowns. The Watch series has thus been enriched with important knowledge, yet I do not think that the gadget world has reached the ceiling of health monitoring, i.e. in the decade, additional, increasingly detailed and useful sensors and analyzes can increase knowledge and provide clues or motivation for a healthy life. And that’s why it’s worth buying a gadget with great knowledge.
