A survey reveals that while nearly two-thirds of Americans regularly use heart monitoring devices like smartwatches and blood pressure monitors, only 25% share this data with their healthcare providers.
Summary:
A survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reveals that while many Americans regularly use devices such as smartwatches and blood pressure monitors to track their heart health, only a quarter share this data with their doctors. These devices can help identify potential health issues early, such as irregular heart rhythms or rising blood pressure, but their full potential remains underutilized without proactive patient-doctor communication. Experts emphasize the importance of integrating self-monitoring data into healthcare discussions to better manage heart conditions.
Key Takeaways:
- Heart Monitoring Devices Are Widely Used: Nearly two-thirds of Americans regularly use devices like smartwatches or blood pressure monitors to track their heart health, with smartwatches being the most popular option.
- Communication Gaps Limit Benefits: Despite the growing adoption of wearable devices, only 25% of users share their data with doctors, potentially missing opportunities for early diagnosis and intervention.
- Self-Monitoring Empowers Patients: Tools like smartwatches and portable monitors enable individuals to take an active role in their health, with capabilities such as EKG recording and heart rate tracking, but medical guidance is essential for effective care.
Advances in technology have made it increasingly easier for people to self-monitor their heart health whether it’s via a smart device on their wrist or finger or a blood pressure monitor.
However, a new national survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that while many Americans use a device to monitor their heart, few share that data with their doctor.
The survey of 1,008 Americans found nearly two-thirds use a device on a regular basis to monitor their heart health with the most popular being a smartwatch (32%), portable blood pressure machine (31%), fitness app (19%), and wearable fitness/movement tracker (13%). Of those who use a device, only 1 in 4 use that data to prompt a conversation about their heart health with their doctor.
Early Detection Opportunities Are Being Missed
“These self-monitoring devices are really helpful to patients and their healthcare providers because they can potentially catch things early. For example, if patients are monitoring their blood pressure at home and notice it’s been going up over time, they may want to discuss it with their doctor sooner rather than waiting for their annual visit. Or they may capture some irregular heart rhythms on their devices, like atrial fibrillation, much sooner than would be diagnosed at the doctor’s office,” says Laxmi Mehta, MD, director of preventative cardiology and Women’s Cardiovascular Health at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Sarah Ross Soter Endowed Chair for Women’s Cardiovascular Health Research, in a release.
Mehta says patients have increasingly been asking her about the pros and cons of self-monitoring health devices. One of those patients is Sue VanWassenhove, 78, of Upper Arlington, whose children got her a smartwatch to track her health after she fell a couple of times. VanWassenhove has sleep apnea, which affects her heart rate and breathing, and she keeps a close eye on what the device is capturing. When her smartwatch showed a pattern of her heart rate dropping, she set up an appointment with Mehta.
“A normal heart rate is between 60 to 100 beats per minute without exercise. Heart rates can vary due to heart conditions or a variety of non-heart related reasons such as infection, dehydration, anxiety, or thyroid disorders. When someone’s heart rate or rhythm seems different than usual, it’s best for them to speak with their doctor,” Mehta says in a release.
When it comes to exercise, the maximum heart rate can be calculated by subtracting a person’s age from 220. With moderate intensity exercise, the goal is to hit 50-75% of that number and 70-85% for vigorous exercise, Mehta says. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week for maintaining a healthy heart.
Empowering Patients Through Technology
During an appointment with Mehta, VanWassenhove learned her smartwatch could do an EKG, which records the electrical signals in the heart, and she could send the results to Mehta through her electronic medical chart.
“Having a smartwatch is very empowering because I’m not being passive with my healthcare. I have some heart issues that need monitored, and it’s important for me to talk to my cardiologist or primary care doctor about any health issues that show up on my watch,” VanWassenhove says in a release.
Photo caption: Laxmi Mehta, MD, director of preventative cardiology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, shows a patient how the functions on her smartwatch can monitor her heart health. Mehta says portable devices that allow patients to monitor their heart health at home have become a valuable tool to help manage heart conditions on an ongoing basis.
Photo credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center