Fitbit Cleared for , Passive Heart Rhythm Monitoring by FDA.<br />Fitbit Cleared for , Passive Heart Rhythm Monitoring by FDA.<br />The company made <br />the announcement on April 11.<br />Today, Fitbit received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for our new PPG (photoplethysmography) algorithm to identify atrial fibrillation (AFib), Fitbit, via blog post.<br />According to the Mayo Clinic, AFib "is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots in the heart." .<br />The condition increases the risk of heart-related issues such as heart failure and stroke.<br />According to a 2010 study, AFib affects <br />about 33.5 million people worldwide.<br />Our new PPG AFib algorithm can passively assess your heart rhythm in the background while you’re still or asleep. , Fitbit, via blog post.<br />If there’s anything that might be suggestive of AFib, you’ll be notified through our Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications feature — allowing you to talk with your healthcare provider or seek further assessment to help prevent a significant medical event, such as stroke, Fitbit, via blog post.<br />Fitbit previously had an EKG app that was cleared by the FDA to check for signs of AFib, but it required users to manually take readings.<br />The new feature runs automatically in the background. It will be available in the U.S. "soon."
