I Have Seen Some of These Commercial Monitoring Devices Be Helpful in Identifying Atrial Fibrillation with a Rapid Heart Rate
Detecting Atrial Fibrillation and Other Health Issues
"I have seen some of these commercial monitoring devices be helpful in identifying atrial fibrillation with a rapid heart rate," says Cedric Dark, MD, MPH, associate professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. In fact, Ali Jamehdor, DO, an emergency medicine physician and medical director of the Weingart Foundation Emergency Department at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, tells SELF that the ability to detect atrial fibrillation is one of the best features of these devices. "A lot of times people will not have any idea that they have this irregular heartbeat because they may not even sense it," he says. "This has been, in my opinion, one of the most important things these instruments are good for."
Beyond Heart Rate Monitoring
But as Woodhall discovered, smart devices can raise the alarm for things outside the cardiac realm too. Along with tracking the beats of your ticker, many also measure temperature, respiration, and other data points. While Dr. Dark says that heart rate monitoring is one of the more useful features of these devices from an emergency medicine standpoint, he also believes that real-time temperature tracking is also handy. "Fever is a key sign of an infection like appendicitis," he says.
Vital Signs
Together, "these two are very important vital signs" docs can use to get a measure of your health, says Erin Muckey, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Limitations of these Devices
While health trackers can be helpful in detecting serious issues, they’re not perfect. That’s a fact many of these trackers are upfront about. Oura, for example, states that its temperature readings are 92% accurate under real-world conditions. Its night time resting heart rate measurement is 99.6% accurate, while its heart rate variability (the variation in time between consecutive heart beats) is 98% accurate when compared to a medical-grade electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures the heart’s electrical activity. The brand also stresses that the ring isn’t a medical device, and isn’t designed to diagnose or monitor medical conditions.
The Apple Watch
The fine print includes caveats about what the watch features are and are not capable of doing, including the fact that it’s not constantly monitoring for AFib so it may not detect all instances. Apple also notes that the companion ECG app cannot detect heart attack, stroke, blood clots, or other heart-related conditions. The company stresses the importance of seeking immediate help if you experience concerning symptoms.
What to Do if You Get an Alert
If you happen to get an alert from your health tracker, don’t panic. But doctors say it’s worth at least paying attention to this information if you’ve been using your device correctly. That’s especially true if you’re also having other symptoms—like dizziness, trouble breathing, chest pain, and feeling faint—along with the alert, Dr. Dark says. Or, say, the severe stomach pains Woodhall experienced.
Conclusion
Smart health trackers can be a useful tool in detecting serious health issues, but it’s essential to understand their limitations. While they can be helpful in identifying atrial fibrillation and other health issues, they are not perfect and should not be relied upon as the sole means of diagnosis or monitoring.
FAQs
- Can smart health trackers diagnose medical conditions?
- No, they are not designed to diagnose or monitor medical conditions. They are meant to provide general health and wellness information.
- Are smart health trackers accurate?
- They can be, but accuracy varies depending on the specific device and how it is used.
- What should I do if I get an alert from my health tracker?
- Pay attention to the alert, but don’t panic. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms, seek medical attention.
