My ecg readings are acting weird

[Natthimmel]

My English isn’t that good, but I will try to explain my problem. We just got the ECG function here in Europe.
I have a Apple watch series 4 and a tattooed wrist. The heart rate sensor measuring my beats have been pretty accurate. But the majority of the ecg-readings are unreadable. I feel fine but the ecg-reading looks terrible. I do have a heart condition but have done surgery so my heart should be perfectly fine.
I did a ”real” ecg reading at a hospital about a month ago and everything looked fine. The only thing that bugs my mind is that I asked a friend of mine to try my watch (she has a much darker tattoo at the same spot on the wrist) and her reading came out fine. So why is my watch acting up on me like this?
Is anyone else having the same problems with the electrocardiogram?

 

[Banglazed]

What watchOS version is currently on the device? When did you started experiencing this issue? Have you tired it on your other wrist? Or someone who does not have any tattoo on their wrist? I also have some strange reading as well but I’m on the beta versions.

 

[Natthimmel]

View attachment 834463 What watchOS version is currently on the device? When did you started experiencing this issue? Have you tired it on your other wrist? Or someone who does not have any tattoo on their wrist? I also have some strange reading as well but I’m on the beta versions.

I’m on watchOS 5.2.
I’ve started to experience this pretty soon after they lanched the ecg-function here in Europe. I’ve tried it on both of my wrists with the same terrible result. Yes, i asked a non-tattooed friend to try it and she got a pretty normal reading, but she only did one try so I’m not sure if it was a lucky shot or not. I always wipe the digital crown so it’s clean and have done all kind of different things to solve the issue. Frustrating

 

[iPhysicist]

Try it on your other wrist. Wash your hands and be sure your fingers skin is not to dry. Maybe it’s a skin resistance problem.

 

[Krayzkat]

Go to a doctor. Don’t ask people here

 

[dangerfish]

That’s just noise/artifact. It’s not a problem with your heart. Could be the tattoo, hair on your arm, watch isn’t tight enough, movement, electrical interference, etc. Mine looks the same unless I really crank the strap down pretty tight.

 

[Ingster]

Step 1. Any problems, PLEASE discuss with a medical professional and don't use Dr. Internet (it frustrates me as a medical professional that people are jumping online to ask about every enquiry when they could nip to a pharmacist/GP/Walk-in Centre/ Medical info telephone Line/Emergency department etc) heart problems - GO TO THE DOCTOR!

Step 2. The tracing looks like artefact, if no symptoms and all clear from doctors then you're all good.

Step 3. This is why there is the disclaimer when ECG is running, without a trained cardiologist walking round following you to read the traces a layman can't make any use of the ECG data, it is a useless function UNLESS you have AF, where it has automatic algorithms to detect AF

 

[iPhysicist]

Go to a doctor. Don’t ask people here

With this ECG being the real heartbeat he would be dead by now. You don't need a trained cardiologist to use your brain. And he already went to a professional a month earlier. So despite the saying better safe than sorry there is no need to freak out over this.