Over
the past decade, our digital capabilities have advanced at an extraordinary
pace. Miniaturization of processors and smart algorithms have made it possible
to create tools we only dreamed about in the past — and put them right at our
fingertips or on our wrists.
Today,
we can say that the realm of consumer electronics has definitely invaded
healthcare. Cardiovascular health is not an
exemption. Did you know you can actually record an electrocardiogram on your
phone or smartwatch, or even through a device implanted under your skin?
But as
true as this is, making practical use of all those technologies remains a
challenge. Are they worth the hype?
For a
long time, wearable devices have been capable of recording physical activity
and heart rate. Those enabled by geo-location can also track routes, distance,
incline and speed. Fitness enthusiasts have enjoyed using these tools to
monitor their training and progress.
In
recent years, wearables have even found their way under the surface of our
skin. A small implantable device resembling a miniature flash drive called
“implantable loop recorder” can be placed under the skin in a simple procedure
and, with a battery lasting close to three years, keep continuous monitoring of
our heart rhythm, rate and physical activity.
For
patients and physicians alike, these devices can be useful for everyday health
monitoring. Automatic algorithms allow these devices to identify abnormal
rhythms and alert you should you need professional medical help.
The
ability to record an electrocardiogram with a personal, portable and relatively
affordable device is just remarkable — and even lifesaving for some. Take
Elizabeth Turner’s story, for example. Her smartwatch alerted her to an
abnormal heart rhythm, uncovering a potentially life-threatening irregular
heartbeat. Read more about her story, here.
If
you’re skeptical of the accuracy of these abilities, let me point you to a
recent large study which concluded that the Apple Watch can accurately detect atrial
fibrillation with a high degree of accuracy. The study suggests
great potential for detecting life-threatening conditions in people who may
have no risk factors or other warning signs.
But the
most important role in heart care for these new technologies is empowering the
well-being of people already experiencing heart problems or diagnosed with
specific conditions.
For
individuals with sporadic symptoms suggestive of arrhythmias, wearables
can help monitor heart rhythms over a long interval. For patients who received
therapy for an arrhythmia and need to monitor recurrences, wearables can help
identify if a recurrence does happen. And for patients with certain cardiac
rhythm problems but no symptoms, wearables can be a helpful way to monitor
uncontrolled rapid heart rates that could lead to other forms of heart disease.
Beyond
simply monitoring your heart rhythm, these wearable devices can store,
aggregate, analyze and share the data. For physicians like myself, this
provides new opportunities to partner with my patients for closer everyday
monitoring of their health. When they have a concern or question about their
data, they can easily share it with me without having to come into the office.
However,
it is important to note that these scenarios should always involve close
monitoring and communication with your doctor. Recording the data is helpful
but only to a point — always talk to your doctor about any potential findings.
Think
you might have an irregular heartbeat? Talk to an expert today.
Authored by Javier Banchs, MD, is a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist on the medical staff
at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple.
Dr. Banchs was born in Venezuela, where he attended medical school at the
Universidad Central de Venezuela. He came to the U.S. for further training in
internal medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in cardiology at the
University of Louisville and in cardiac electrophysiology at Penn State
University, where he was recruited to stay as faculty. He was recruited as
Director of Electrophysiology and Pacing for Baylor Scott & White Medical
Center - Temple, where he has led the expansion of electrophysiology services
in the Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas region. He focuses on
ablation and device therapy for patients with cardiac arrhythmias and heart
failure, as well as left atrial appendage exclusion and comprehensive therapy
for patients with cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Get to know Dr. Banchs today. View all posts
by Javier Banchs, MD
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