India, Sept. 27 -- Smartwatches have come a long way from simply counting steps or tracking workouts. Today, smartwatches can monitor heart rate and detect variations in heart rhythm, and some models can also perform ECG measurements. This helps users detect diseases early, especially if the device detects any irregularity in the heartbeat. However, smartwatch data is not a professional diagnosis and should always be interpreted in a medical context.

Many smartwatches use photoplethysmography (PPG), a technology that uses light-based sensors to monitor changes in blood flow through the skin with each heartbeat. "This analysis helps estimate heart rate and identify unusual or irregular rhythm patterns", Dr Amit Handa, Consultant, Cardiolo...