Fainting might seem like a dramatic but harmless event, but the real danger lies in what happens next. A sudden fall can result in fractures, concussions, and other serious injuries. It is especially harmful for elderly people and can cause some serious head trauma and mobility issues.
Samsung’s latest research could change that. The company has completed a joint clinical study with Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital in Korea, successfully validating that the Galaxy Watch 6 can predict vasovagal syncope (VVS) before it happens.
In plain English, that means your watch can warn you that you’re about to faint.
What is vasovagal syncope, and why should you care?
Vasovagal syncope happens when your heart rate and blood pressure drop suddenly, often triggered by stress, causing you to lose consciousness. Up to 40% of people experience it at some point in their lives, and a third of those deal with recurring episodes.
Professor Junhwan Cho of the Department of Cardiology at Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital sums it up well. “An early warning could give patients advance time to get into a safe position or call for help, which would dramatically reduce the incidence of secondary injuries.”
How does the Galaxy Watch predict fainting?
The research team ran tests on 132 patients with suspected VVS symptoms. Using a Galaxy Watch 6 equipped with a PPG sensor, the team analyzed heart rate variability data with an AI algorithm.
The results were impressive. The model predicted fainting episodes up to 5 minutes before they occurred, with 84.6% accuracy and 90% sensitivity. The findings were published in the European Heart Journal Digital Health, and this is the first study to show that a commercial smartwatch can do this.
Apple Watch has a fall detection feature that notifies your trusted contacts when you fall and do not respond. It seems that the Galaxy Watch 6 can now do better and warn someone before they faint, so they can take precautions to reduce injuries resulting from the fall.
It’s these kinds of research and advancements that turn our everyday gadgets into life-saving devices, and we cannot wait to see how far we can push the boundaries of what technology can do.