By introducing the Venu 2 Plus, Garmin no longer hides its ambition to rub shoulders with the major players in the connected watch market. It is still necessary to offer the functions found in the competition. If it does offer heart rate and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, or even sleep monitoring, the manufacturer previously ignored the electrocardiogram. A function reserved for the most high-end watches and which can no longer be neglected in a market that has become very competitive. Without warning, Garmin has just introduced its ECG app for not a new watch, but its Venu 2 Plus.
A surprising addition, because the realization of electrocardiograms implies that the watch is equipped with electrodes. It must be believed that the Venu 2 Plus was designed with this in mind, since the function arrives without Garmin introducing a specific version of its tocante.
To perform an electrocardiogram with the Garmin Venu 2 Plus, you must first ensure that the watch and the Garmin Connect application are up to date (firmware version 11.21 at least and app version 4.62 or later). The ECG app is then accessible directly from the watch, which must of course be worn on the wrist. The measurement takes 30 seconds from the moment the thumb and index finger are positioned on either side of the metal bezel.
The ECG app also checks for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) or normal sinus rhythm, according to the manufacturer. Verifications which are important, specifies Garmin which however wants to be reassuring: “The irregular heartbeat causes poor blood flow to the heart, which can lead to stroke, heart failure, and other medical issues. Atrial fibrillation can be temporary or persistent, but it’s a manageable condition when treated by a doctor and with medication. Many people with atrial fibrillation lead healthy lives.”
The EKG app is currently only available in the United States. Garmin will have to obtain approval from the health authorities of the other countries in which it would like to deploy this feature. It would be surprising if it did not cross the Atlantic. In any case, we can now expect future Garmin watches to be equipped with it.