WHOOP for Heart Monitoring: What ECG and Blood Pressure Can Tell You

Hello Heart Hero. We understand the anxiety that accompanies heart flutters, skipped beats, or a racing heart. It's natural to seek immediate answers, especially when the healthcare system feels slow and impersonal. This guide provides clarity and confidence by exploring WHOOP's cardiovascular monitoring capabilities.

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Key Takeaways

• WHOOP Life offers two powerful cardiovascular features: Heart Screener for rhythm monitoring and Blood Pressure Insights for daily BP tracking
• WHOOP's Heart Screener is valuable for detecting Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and identifying high or low heart rates
• However, WHOOP's ECG is primarily designed for AFib detection and has limitations in identifying other arrhythmias

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Heart Screener: On-Demand ECG Readings

Your heart health is crucial, and WHOOP's Heart Screener helps you stay informed with on-demand ECG readings. This feature, exclusive to WHOOP Life members, assists in detecting atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common heart arrhythmia, and identifies high or low heart rates.

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How It Works

To take an ECG reading on your WHOOP:

1. Access the Health tab in the WHOOP app
2. Tap Heart Screener and follow the prompts
3. Place your thumb and index finger on the sensor indents of the WHOOP clasp
4. Receive a detailed heart rhythm report within seconds, shareable with loved ones or healthcare providers

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Understanding Your Results

Your ECG results may show:

• Normal Sinus Rhythm: A consistent heart rhythm indicating that the electrical activity in your heart is functioning as expected.
• Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): An irregular heartbeat where the upper chambers of the heart experience erratic electrical signals, potentially increasing the risk of stroke and other heart-related complications.
• Low or High Heart Rate: Either bradycardia (heart rate below 50 bpm), possibly affecting your body's ability to circulate blood efficiently, or tachycardia (heart rate exceeding 100 bpm), which can lead to complications if sustained.
• Inconclusive: The ECG reading cannot be clearly interpreted, which might suggest the presence of other underlying conditions requiring further investigation. This can also occur due to movement or poor signal quality.

Limitations of WHOOP's Heart Screener

Similar to Apple Watch, Fitbit, KardiaMobile, and other consumer ECG devices, WHOOP's ECG is:

• Primarily designed for the detection of AFib and not intended for users with known arrhythmias other than AFib
• Not designed for users under 22 years old
• Not recommended for users with cardiac pacemakers or ICDs
• Available only in selected countries (see regional availability)

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Blood Pressure Insights: Daily BP Monitoring

Blood Pressure Insights is a groundbreaking feature available exclusively on WHOOP Life that provides daily systolic and diastolic blood pressure estimations. This patent-pending technology offers insights right from your wrist.

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How Blood Pressure Insights Works

WHOOP sensors measure heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and blood flow patterns during sleep to estimate systolic and diastolic ranges upon waking. Since blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, WHOOP focuses on a consistent timeframe when your body is at rest and readings are least affected by movement, stress, or caffeine.

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Key measurements:

• Systolic blood pressure (the higher number): Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps blood
• Diastolic blood pressure (the lower number): Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest between beats

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Getting Started with Blood Pressure Insights

1. Open the WHOOP app and navigate to the Health tab
2. Log a traditional cuff blood pressure reading in-app to calibrate your baseline
3. View daily estimates and track weekly, monthly, and 6-month trends

Note: Blood Pressure Insights is currently in beta. This feature is not a medical device and cannot diagnose or manage medical conditions. Always consult your doctor for health concerns.

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Why Blood Pressure Matters for Heart Health

Understanding your blood pressure helps you take better care of your heart. Keeping blood pressure in a healthy range supports:

• Healthy arteries: Optimal blood pressure keeps your arteries flexible and reduces strain on your cardiovascular system
• Strong heart function: When blood pressure is well-managed, your heart doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood throughout your body
• Reduced cardiovascular risk: Tracking your blood pressure trends gives you valuable insights into your heart health and helps you make informed lifestyle choices
• Long-term heart wellness: Monitoring patterns over time empowers you to catch potential concerns early and take proactive steps with your healthcare provider

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What Qaly Members Say About WHOOP for Heart Monitoring

"I really like that it doesn't have a screen- it helped me stop obsessing over checking my heart. The recording quality is not different from the Apple Watch."

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Conclusion

Well, that wraps up our guide on monitoring your heart health with WHOOP. We hope this has given you a clearer understanding of what the Heart Screener and Blood Pressure Insights can tell you.

While WHOOP excels at daily AFib screening and blood pressure tracking, we know that inconclusive results or concerning patterns can feel scary and confusing. That's why we created the Qaly app - to give you expert analysis when you need it most. On the Qaly app, certified cardiac technicians will interpret your ECGs within minutes for clarity and peace of mind.

Ready for expert ECG analysis? Grab the Qaly app from the App Store or Play Store today. If you have questions or need help, reach out anytime at support@qaly.co.

As always from the team at Qaly, stay heart healthy ❤️