Should You Use Wearable Tech to Improve Heart Health?

Wearable gadgets, such as an Apple Watch or Fitbit, have long been able to track your physical activity. But the new generation of smartwatches and smart bands are more intelligent about tracking your heart health, too.

About 38 million Americans who have or are at risk for heart disease use wearable devices. That number is growing rapidly. If you are wondering whether a smartwatch or smart band could help manage your heart health, here are some things to know.

Some wearable devices can measure:

• Resting heart rate (RHR): How fast your heart beats when you are at rest. A high or very low RHR may signal heart health risks.
• Heart rate variability (HRV): Variation in the amount of time between heartbeats. Some variability is normal as your body continually adjusts to changing demands. A low level of HRV may signal heart health risks.
• Active heart rate: How fast your heart beats during physical activity. Staying within your target range helps you exercise at a safe, effective intensity for you.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly and sometimes much too fast. Untreated AFib may lead to a stroke or heart failure. Treatment can help prevent these complications. But people don’t always experience symptoms, so they may not know that they have AFib until a serious problem arises.

Some wearable devices can detect and record your heart’s rhythm to look for signs of possible AFib. A large study of one device, published in the journal Circulation, found that it correctly identified AFib episodes 98% of the time.

If you plan to use a wearable device to track your health, choose one that has been FDA cleared. You can search the FDA device database here.

Then, if you have or are at risk for heart disease, ask your doctor or clinician:

• What different RHR and HRV numbers mean for you
• The right target range for your heart rate during exercise
• What to do if you get a notification from your device about an irregular heart rhythm

The answers can help you make wise use of your smartwatch or smart band.