Smartwatch detects atrial fibrillation, prompting emergency care and heart surgery

Joseph Holycross experienced intermittent rapid heartbeats for up to two years but dismissed them as caffeine or fatigue. After his wife, respiratory therapist Jamie, observed abnormal breathing, he used the ECG feature on his three-year-old Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic. The device instantly flagged atrial fibrillation, a result he initially doubted but repeated to confirm.

An ER doctor reviewed the watch’s tracing, verified the arrhythmia, and admitted him for further evaluation. A week later, surgeons performed open-heart surgery to correct several defects, noting that without the procedure he might not have survived into his mid-40s. The medical team also advised genetic screening for his siblings and future testing for his children, highlighting broader family health implications.