Your next bathroom break could come with an unexpected bonus: a check of your heart rhythm.German medical technology company Hamberger Medical has developed the HARO EKG-seat.
It looks like a regular toilet seat, but built-in sensors record an electrocardiogram, also called an EKG or ECG, while you sit.After about 30 seconds, a connected smartphone app analyzes the reading for signs of an irregular heart rhythm, including possible atrial fibrillation.AFib is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, and millions of people may have it without realizing anything feels wrong.
It sounds like the kind of idea someone dreamed up during a very long bathroom break.However, the possibility of catching a silent heart condition during something you already do every day deserves attention.Here's what the early research reveals about how well the seat works and where its limits begin.CyberGuy Live: Missed "Sick of Spam?" Get the replay and checklistOur free CyberGuy Live class "Sick of Spam?" has ended, but you can still watch the full replay and download our spam-stopping checklist.
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(iStock)A conventional medical EKG usually requires you to lie down while a medical professional places electrodes on your chest and other parts of your body.The HARO EKG-seat takes a different approach.
Its sensors collect electrical signals from your body while you sit normally.The seat records a six-lead resting EKG and sends the information to its companion app through Bluetoot...