We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Wearable tech makes a giant leap towards a complete health tool today (March 28), as Apple launches the surprisingly useful ECG feature in its latest update.
The Watch Series 4 was revealed to have some impressive health features packed in when it was announced back in September 2018, from full fitness measurements to a monitor that can detect when you've fallen down and instantly call an ambulance.
But the ECG monitor feature is what a lot of people have been waiting for, mainly so we can all get a better understanding of our ticker.
What everyone's reading
The free update today will let you take an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is essentially a scan of your heart rate and performance to detect if you have irregular beats.
Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS, 40mm) - Space Grey Aluminium Case with Black Sport Band
It's fully automatic and will basically count and measure the strength of your heart rate, as well as the ensuing electrical signals to determine the health of your heart.
It's actually quite an impressive piece of tech and could prove vital in maintaining the health of its users.
To use it, open the ECG app on your Apple 4 and place your finger on the crown on the right of the screen.
You might want to put your arm on a desk or support it, as you will have to hold this position for 30 seconds for the ECG to complete.
Your Watch 4 screen will then light up with information and a summary of your ECG.
Note that the new app will not be able to detect heart attacks, blood clots, strokes or any other heart problems, so don't use this as your own personal doctor.
Apple Watch Series 4, GPS, 40mm Silver Aluminium Case with Sport Band, White
It can, however, detect arterial fibrillation (AFib), which is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can consequently lead to such issues.
Basically, the ECG app is an early warning system that will advise you if you should talk to an expert about your heart health.
You can then view all your data and keep track of your results on your iPhone in the health app.
The update is free and available to download today.
