Learn how Google Irregular Rhythm Notifications check for atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Google Health doesn’t analyze your data in real time. If you receive a notification, it means we saw signs of an irregular rhythm that may be AFib in the last 24 hours (with regular device syncing).

If you receive an irregular rhythm notification, you should talk to your doctor.

1. Open the Google Health app , tap the Health tab . If Google Health detects signs of any irregular heart rhythms that might be AFib, a list of notifications and when they occurred will show.
2. Tap a notification for detailed information. A list of irregular rhythm readings appears, marked with the time when the reading occurred, and the minimum and maximum heart rate during that time period. Swipe up to see the summary at the bottom of the page, which lists the date and time of the first irregular rhythm reading, last irregular rhythm reading, and when the data was recorded in the Google Health app.
3. Tap an irregular rhythm reading for additional information. A list of your beat-to-beat measurements appears. Each heartbeat has a bpm value and a timestamp of when it occurred. The summary at the top displays the minimum and maximum bpm value recorded.

To delete a single irregular rhythm notification:

1. Open the Google Health app , and tap the Health tab .
2. Tap the notification you want to delete.
3. Tap More Delete result Delete.

For instructions on how to delete all irregular rhythm notifications within a date range, check out How do I control my data?

For instructions on how to export your data, see How do I export my account data?

For instructions on how to turn off irregular rhythm notifications, see How do I control my data?

Google Health doesn’t analyze your data in real-time. Keep the Google Health app running in the background to make sure your compatible watch or tracker can regularly sync. To check when your heart rhythm data was last analyzed:

1. Open the Google Health app , and tap the Health tab .
2. Under "Health checks," tap Irregular rhythm. The time and date when your data was last analyzed appears below your history of notifications.

If your data hasn’t been analyzed in several days, follow the troubleshooting steps in Why won't my device sync?

Note that data is stored on your watch or tracker for 7 days. If you haven’t synced with the Google Health app in over 7 days, older data might be deleted and won’t be analyzed.

If your phone doesn’t receive push notifications from the Google Health app:

• Turn on notifications for the Google Health app in your phone's settings. For instructions, review Control notifications on Android for Android phones or Use notifications on your iPhone or iPad for iPhones.
• Check that the Google Health app on your phone is updated. For instructions, see How do I use the Google Health app?

Google Health can only analyze your heart rhythm data for AFib when you’re still. Wear your consumer wrist-worn product often, especially to sleep, and sync your data often to help look for signs of AFib more often. We only send a notification if we see signs of an irregular rhythm in multiple readings, which means you might not receive irregular rhythm notifications if we’re not able to collect enough data each day.

To troubleshoot heart-rate tracking, see What factors can affect my heart-rate reading on my device?

A clinical study was performed to validate the Google Irregular Rhythm Notifications (IRN) software algorithm’s ability to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) using data collected from consumer wrist-worn products. The Fitbit Validation of Software for Assessment of Atrial Fibrillation From PPG Data Acquired by a Wearable Smartwatch Study (NCT04380415) included 455,699 subjects. There were 4,728 subjects who received an irregular rhythm notification and were invited to receive and wear an electrocardiogram (ECG) patch. Of those, 1,057 wore and returned a 7-day ECG patch monitor with usable data. The prevalence of AFib based on the 7-day ECG patch monitoring results was 32.2% (340/1057).

The Google Irregular Rhythm Notifications software algorithm detected signs of AFib in 225 subjects while they were wearing an ECG patch after an initial IRN notification. Of those, 98.2% (221/225) showed AFib detections from the Irregular Rhythm Notifications software algorithm and the ECG patch at approximately the same time. No serious adverse events were observed during the clinical study.

Google Irregular Rhythm Notifications collects pulse rate data in the background when you’re still or at rest by analyzing beat-to-beat measurements. It uses the optical pulse-rate sensor on your compatible wrist-worn product to identify heart rhythm changes. If multiple readings show an irregular pulse rate that may be AFib, you receive a notification. Data isn’t analyzed in real-time.

The Google ECG app uses electrical sensors on the back of your compatible product and on the metal frame around its face to allow you to record the electrical signals from your heartbeat during a 30-second reading. The Google ECG app is qualitatively similar to a Lead I ECG in that it can be used to discriminate between AFib and normal sinus rhythm. The Google ECG app analyzes the recording and presents the results on your watch or tracker. For more information, see What is the Google ECG app?

No. Google Irregular Rhythm Notifications isn’t intended for use in individuals previously diagnosed with AFib.

You might not receive a notification for every episode of irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib if sufficient data isn’t available. The absence of a notification doesn’t mean you don’t have AFib. For this reason, the feature shouldn’t be used as a monitoring tool. Please talk to your doctor if you’re looking to monitor your previously diagnosed AFib.

DO NOT change your medication without first speaking to your doctor. The results of the Irregular Rhythm Notifications may not be accurate in people who take medication or substances that affect heart rate or heart rhythm.

DO NOT use this product in place of treatment prescribed by your doctor. Palpitations and shortness of breath can be symptoms of AFib, but some people don’t have any symptoms. AFib is treatable, so the earlier you detect it, the sooner you and your doctor can do something about it. If you receive a notification and have not been diagnosed with AFib by a physician, you should talk to your doctor. Erroneous false negative or false positive results due to the device or user error may occur. If you don’t get a notification, it’s possible to still have AFib. Google Health is not always looking for AFib. We can’t notify you for all instances of irregular heart rhythm that may be AFib. For more information on the performance of Google Irregular Rhythm Notifications, see How accurate are irregular rhythm notifications?

No. Irregular Rhythm Notifications has not been tested for and is not intended for use in people under 22 years of age.

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