The ECG app functions by capturing the electrical activity of your heart to assess its rhythm and rate.
The core mechanism described is quite straightforward: the ECG app records an electrocardiogram which represents the electrical pulses that make your heart beat. These electrical signals are fundamental to your heart's function.
Once the app records these pulses, it performs specific analyses:
- Heart Rate Calculation: The app checks the recorded pulses to determine your heart rate.
- Rhythm Analysis: It looks at the pattern of these pulses to see if the upper and lower chambers of your heart are working in rhythm.
- AFib Detection: A key check is to identify if the chambers are out of rhythm. As the reference states, If they're out of rhythm, that could be AFib.
Think of it as listening to your heart's electrical conversation. The app listens to the rhythm and speed of that conversation and alerts you if the pattern suggests a potential issue like Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).
Key Steps of the ECG App Process
Based on the description provided, the process involves a few critical stages:
- Recording: Capture the electrical pulses of the heart (the electrocardiogram).
- Checking Pulses: Analyze the recorded data.
- Calculating Rate: Determine the heart rate from the pulses.
- Assessing Rhythm: Evaluate if the upper and lower chambers are in rhythm.
- Identifying Potential AFib: Flag if the rhythm is irregular (out of rhythm), which could indicate AFib.
This functionality provides users with a simple way to monitor their heart rhythm and detect potential signs of AFib from their device.