The smart watch, like other popular smartphone–linked ECG devices, can have a wavy baseline if not applied carefully. In a few people, other health problems (including Parkinson's disease and a previous stroke) made it impossible to get a clear signal, Dr. In the study, physicians-not the study participants - placed the watch in those positions. One main reason: Obtaining an ECG with a smart watch requires carefully holding the back of the watch on the wrist and at eight specific locations on the chest and abdomen. Peter Libby, a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

'This study is more a proof-of-principle rather than something that's clinically useful,' says Harvard Medical School professor Dr. While these new findings show potential, the real-world applicability is still years away. Now, a small study suggests that ECG readings taken with a smart watch may be just as accurate as a traditional ECG done in a medical setting. To diagnose a heart attack, doctors look for a distinctive pattern on a tracing of the heart's electrical activity, using a test known as a 12-lead electrocardiogram, or ECG. But detecting various heart problems with a smart watch could become a reality within the decade. This technology isn't ready for prime time yet.

Heart pro 3 android