Can you monitor your health with a smartwatch?

Policy researcher Sneha Sinha, who works in Delhi, was recently taken aback when her wristwatch alerted her to what was described as a “abnormally high” heart rate. According to Sinha, who claimed not to have any underlying medical concerns, “I walk in high-altitude mountain regions above 15,000-16,000 feet where oxygen levels are often low.” “I attempted deep breathing in the hopes that it might help. When it continued for more than 1.5 hours, the ECG showed that atrial fibrillation (AFib) had begun. I therefore made the decision to get medical help,” she continues, adding that the physicians had called her condition a “near call.”

Smartwatches have developed past simple features like making calls and accessing the internet. They now track REM cycles while you sleep and can even measure how many calories you consume when you go out. Modern wearables are equipped with medical functions including blood-oxygen metres, AFib history optical heart sensors, built-in ECG readers, and more. According to a 2020 research that was published in JAMA Cardiology, certain wearables may even be able to produce readings that are just as reliable as conventional ECGs, which may save lives.

How is technology operated?

Smartwatches employ LEDs that flash against the skin to monitor blood flow and calculate heart rate, according to a research on the potential of ECGs that was published in Science Direct. This data is gathered by sensors and processed by computers to determine the heart’s rhythm.

Professional advice: don’t use it carelessly.

Despite the therapeutic promise of wearable technology, doctors caution against using smartwatches as a baseline for cardiovascular health.

“The ease of use and almost continuous monitoring are two advantages over’medical’ 24-hour ECG or Holter monitoring. Precision is a big restriction, despite the fact that patients may learn to monitor their own health, according to Dr. Rakesh Rai Sapra, head of cardiology at Marengo Asia Hospitals in Faridabad.

Users may utilise these gadgets to learn how to look for anomalies using the capabilities that are now available, according to Dr. DK Jhamb, SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals’ director of interventional cardiology. “At best, they serve as preliminary markers of general cardiovascular health. Smartwatches typically report a falsely low heart rate when there is an irregular pulse. See a cardiologist as soon as possible if your heart rate is too high (above 100 beats per minute) or too low (below 60).” he concludes.

Creating a starting point

To guarantee accuracy, feed precise information about your height, weight, dietary changes, and any pre- or post-surgical health-related data.

In order to understand the data being captured and any anomalies, you should always seek medical attention.

When selecting a customised exercise programme, be sure to mention any current medical concerns and pay attention to your health indicators.

Avoid making your own diagnoses and instead use your smartwatch as a guide.

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