The benefits and drawbacks of wearable heart monitors
This holiday season you may find a wearable heart monitor under the tree, give one as a gift or buy one for yourself. Smart watches are the most popular tracking devices for checking heart rate, blood pressure and heart-healthy exercise. Consumers are also using smart phone apps, wristbands and tracking rings.
Dr. Ildiko Agoston, a University Health cardiologist, says the devices can improve health when they motivate people to become more physically active, and they may help wearers detect irregularities. However, using them to track functions related to heart disease is a mixed bag. She warns the devices are often not as accurate as those in a doctor’s office, users do not always understand the information produced through the tracking and the data may be inaccurate.
She talks about the pros and cons of the monitors in this interview
https://f.io/0gl3CmPM. Video of smart watch monitors is also provided.
“Someone who has never seen a cardiologist may gather data they cannot correctly interpret,” said Dr. Agoston. “That can lead to increased anxiety and unnecessary medical tests, even though they have no symptoms of heart disease.”
Increased use of wearable monitors for arrhythmia
Research recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found wearable monitors are increasingly used by patients concerned about atrial fibrillation or AFib. The condition is the most common treatable heartbeat irregularity and increases a person’s risk of having a stroke.
The study found that many people wearing the devices engaged in “excessive symptom monitoring,” and 20% experienced extreme anxiety when their device told them they had an irregular heart rhythm.
Who benefits from the monitoring?
Dr. Agoston advises against self-monitoring for heart rate and arrhythmia by people without symptoms. However, for those with symptoms – an irregular heartbeat, palpitations, shortness of breath or chest pain – monitoring can be useful if the person using the device shares the information with their health care provider. That’s because the arrhythmias can happen suddenly and be difficult to predict. The devices can pick up a pattern that will help a cardiologist diagnose a problem that needs treatment.
“Talk to your doctor about the results if you are seeing what appears to be a problem,” she said.
And, if you are thinking of buying a monitor, ask your doctor whether the investment will be a benefit. Dr. Agoston and other cardiologists say consumer monitors are here to stay and will evolve over time, but more research is needed before we know how they are affecting accurate diagnoses and treatment.
