5 Things You Should Know About Your Fitness Tracker and Your Heart Health

Wearable fitness trackers are a popular tool people use to reach their fitness goals. With wearable trackers becoming more popular and more advanced in recent years, you may be wondering how useful and accurate these gadgets are in helping people live heart-healthy lives.

Alexander Asser, MD, director of the Electrophysiology Lab at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center shares his thoughts on how fitness trackers can be effectively used to help you reach your heart health goals.

FITNESS TRACKERS OFFER A VARIETY OF BENEFICIAL HEALTH TOOLS

Trackers and smart watches make numerous health features easily accessible. According to Dr. Asser, “trackers can monitor your heart rate, activity level, sleep patterns, blood pressure, calories burnt, and some can even take a basic electrocardiogram (EKG).”

FITNESS TRACKERS USE SENSORS TO MONITOR YOUR BODILY FUNCTIONS

Wearable fitness trackers use sensors to help monitor your movements and other bodily activities. “Using fitness trackers to monitor your heart, can support you in making critical decisions about your health,” says Dr. Asser. He added “By monitoring your sleep, heart rate, blood pressure and quality of exercise, you can identify health concerns early and receive care sooner and with better outcomes.”

WEARABLE FITNESS TRACKERS ARE OCCASIONALLY PRONE TO INACCURACIES

Dr. Asser does recognize that it isn’t uncommon for fitness trackers to record inaccurate data. He adds, “Although trackers have become more sophisticated, they may occasionally give misleading results and should never be used to replace sound clinical judgment provided by your physician.”

USE YOUR FITNESS TRACKER TO ACHIEVE YOUR FITNESS GOALS

Whether it is achieving 10,000 steps per day, getting quality sleep or maintaining a lower resting heart rate, trackers can provide powerful data. Dr. Asser added, “the feedback that trackers provide empowers patients to make informed decisions as they progress towards their health goals. They can have a powerful effect on one’s heart health and overall well-being.”

CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR HEART HEALTH

Even with all the advances in wearable fitness devices, Dr. Asser still encourages people to talk with their doctor about their heart health. “Your doctor, can review your health history and determine the best course of action for your continued heart care.”

Sources: American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Consumer Reports