Courtesy of BillĪ 2020 study called the Digital Health Generation, a collaborative effort between professors at the University of Salford Manchester, the University of Bath, University of New South Wales Sydney and the University of Canberra, found that health tracking devices and apps can cause anxiety in young people. One of Bill's inconclusive ECG results from the Fitbit Sense. But Bill also isn't alone in feeling stress or anxiety about health readings from smartwatches and other digital wellness tools. The medical experts CNET spoke with also believe wearables do more good than harm when it comes to health management. "Because the conditions tied to those data types are a little scarier, and people get scared easier."īill's anxiety about the Fitbit Sense's inconclusive ECG readings is personal and doesn't reflect the experience of most smartwatch owners. Devin Mann, associate professor of population health and medicine at New York University Langone Health. "I do get nervous, honestly, when I see more data types that are more truly clinical being used in a consumer way," said Dr. But while companies are clear about how not to use their products, some experts believe device makers could be clearer about how these gadgets should be used. In some cases, data from the Apple Watch has even saved lives. Wearable devices have become indispensable tools for aiding in medical research and encouraging people to develop healthier habits. Fitbit is studying how its devices can potentially track pulse arrival time, or how long it takes for a pulse of blood to reach the wrist after a heartbeat, and its possible link to blood pressure monitoring. Apple is working on tech that could enable future Apple Watch models to take readings for blood sugar, body temperature and blood pressure, according to reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. If the line is already blurring, there's a chance it may become further obscured in the future as tech companies develop new ways to help us live healthier lives. The Apple Watch Series 6 (pictured) and Series 7 can measure blood oxygen levels. Today's wearables are much more than just activity trackers, but they're also not a replacement for medical care, nor are they trying to be. Yet smartwatches and fitness bands can now track metrics, such as blood oxygen saturation and body fat estimates, that may have previously required a visit to the doctor or a specialized device. The Fitbit Sense and similar wearables such as the Apple Watch aren't intended for medical diagnosis, a distinction that gadget makers are very clear about. "And I would keep checking it to see if it was normal or not, just to reassure myself that I was fine." "If it was inconclusive, I'd be like 'OK, I need it to say normal,'" he said. (Bill asked that his last name be omitted from the story so that he could freely discuss details about his health. This can happen if there's too much movement during the scan or if the wearer's heart rate is too high or low, as Fitbit explains on its website.īut Bill didn't realize this when he was taking up to 20 ECGs per day because of his anxiety around springtime last year. An inconclusive result doesn't indicate a health issue it just means the device couldn't get a reliable reading. Yet Bill only grew more anxious after receiving inconclusive ECG results on the Fitbit Sense. He thought it would reassure him that he was healthy if he was able to take an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) reading when he felt something abnormal, such as heartburn or an accelerated heartbeat. That's why he bought a Fitbit Sense in late 2020. Bill, a 31-year-old engineer based in Ohio, has experienced health anxiety in some capacity for most of his life.
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