From tracking your heart rate to tracking your steps, fitness trackers have changed the way we look at health. We're a nation obsessed with getting things done quickly, and wearable trackers like Whoop and Oura Ring have made it easier than ever to see our health in real time. But being able to track your health data at the touch of a button (especially to monitor heart conditions like atrial fibrillation) could cause more harm than good, a new study says.
Published in the study Journal of the American Heart Association, Wearing fitness trackers to monitor heart conditions like AFib (a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat) has actually been shown to More They are worried about their health.
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According to the American Heart Association, atrial fibrillation (better known as AFib or AF) occurs as an arrhythmia (your heart beating with an irregular or abnormal rhythm or feeling shaky). usually not life-threatening; It can lead to stroke, heart failure, blood clots, and other similar heart-related problems. According to the website, an estimated 12 million people will have this condition by 2030.
While some people may never realize they have AFib, other patients report symptoms such as fast, pounding or pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain and more.
There are many reasons why an individual may develop this heart condition. A few of the most common include being born with a congenital heart defect, having a heart attack, having sleep apnea, or having a previous viral infection, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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The study followed 172 patients (both men and women of different ages) with AFib. Of the 172 people, 83 wore wearable monitors over a nine-month period, while the others wore nothing at all. According to the study, wearable device users reported higher rates of symptom monitoring and preoccupation, as well as greater anxiety about AFib treatment, compared to people who did not wear monitors. Additionally, 20 percent of wearable device users were concerned about irregular rhythm notifications and consulted their doctors.
While there's no doubt that wearable technology that monitors our health in real time can be positive in terms of tracking steps, body temperature and sleep patterns, for more serious conditions like AFib, research suggests it can do more harm than good.
If you find yourself obsessing about your health, do your best to be mindful of how often you check it. It may even be beneficial to take a break and get away from technology.