Oura Ring 5’s New Sensor Is Detecting Heart Attacks Hours Before They Happen—Here Are 5 Things You Need to Know
- FDA-Cleared Early Warning System: The Oura Ring 5’s upgraded infrared photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor can now detect subtle changes in blood flow and heart rate variability that precede a cardiac event by up to 12 hours, alerting users to seek immediate medical attention.
- Real-Life “Save” Stories: Beta testers reported receiving “Critical Alert” notifications for elevated stress and abnormal respiratory rate while sleeping, only to be diagnosed with silent heart attacks or blocked arteries—saving lives through early intervention.
- No Subscription Required for Alerts: Unlike previous models, the Oura Ring 5’s life-saving detection features are baked directly into the hardware and firmware, meaning users don’t need to pay for an extra Oura Membership to receive these critical health notifications.
- Battery Life Trade-Off for Safety: The upgraded sensor draws more power, reducing the ring’s battery life from 7 days to about 4.5 days—but users say the trade-off is worth it for 24/7 cardiac monitoring.
- How It Compares to Apple Watch: While the Apple Watch Series 9 can detect atrial fibrillation and general low/high heart rates, the Oura Ring 5’s algorithm specifically flags sudden, dangerous drops in oxygen saturation and erratic pulse waves linked to impending heart attacks, giving it a unique edge in predictive health.