There is a misconception that someone who is fit is healthy. We see this all the time — professional athletes, people training for marathons and people who enjoy exercise and partake in frequent training don’t realize that by doing so, they are putting added strain on their hearts and it’s more important than ever to do so while being seen under the care of a cardiologist. Today, wearable devices that they are using for training are also able to help their cardiologists monitor their heart health and this is just the beginning of a new frontier of medicine.
This is where wearable technology plays a vital role. For most users, these small devices help monitor their well-being. They remind you if you have not slept enough, if you have been sitting too long, and they count your steps, encouraging you to stay active. In the future, they might even alert you when you are too stressed and suggest taking a vacation. Wearable devices have become integral to our lives, continually collecting vast amounts of valuable medical data from millions of people worldwide. For us cardiologists, this data can be used to expedite diagnoses, enhance patient treatment, advance research, and even save lives.
Seven years ago, I saw a trend developing that more people were taking part in training exercises, what used to be for athletes was now quickly becoming a hobby for people who weren’t athletes but realized the benefits to partaking in high-intensity exercise and while they found themselves getting in better shape, they didn’t realize that they were adding stress on their heart and should be seen under regular care by a doctor. This inspired me to open the Sports Cardiology Clinic at Beilinson Hospital, one of the country’s largest hospitals. Fast-forward to today, where we are the largest such clinic in the country and oversee the care of more than 500 Olympic, competitive and recreational athletes, helping them to continue their training routine effectively and safely. We see the difference that wearable technology makes as we monitor our patients.
One such example is a patient who is a 45-year-old software engineer and family man who took up mountain biking in his mid-thirties as a hobby. Over time, he turned this passion into a competitive pursuit, participating in races. I have been monitoring him through regular check-ups at our clinic. A few months ago, he called me in distress after a training session, describing an episode at the peak of his exercise where his heart felt irregular and he was on the verge of fainting. This incident concerned me, even though his recent cardiologic evaluation was normal. I was uncertain whether this was a potentially harmful event or something that might not recur. The decision I had to make was whether to allow him to continue his regular activity, knowing he might be at risk, or tell him to stop the high-intensity activity, possibly overreacting to a harmless event.
Fortunately, during our conversation, I asked if he had been wearing his smartwatch during the training session. I was relieved to learn that he had, and it had recorded an electrocardiogram (ECG) at the time of the episode. Upon reviewing the data, I immediately recognized that he had experienced an episode of atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is a common arrhythmia often seen in master athletes of his age, but it is not life-threatening. With this quick diagnosis, I was able to provide immediate treatment. He did not have to stop his activity, nor did we need to repeat the entire cardiologic evaluation nor did he need to wait to schedule an in-person appointment with me while we worried if it was something serious. The smartwatch allowed me to review the data immediately and diagnose him from the comfort of his own home and without having to wait for an appointment.
This event occurred twice more on separate occasions. Each time, he contacted me and sent the ECG data, I instructed him to take the medication I had prescribed to stop the arrhythmia immediately. Once, it even happened while I was on vacation in Madrid, while he, believe it or not, was participating in the Epic race in Israel.
This is just one example among many where wearable technology has enabled timely and effective medical intervention, highlighting its potential to revolutionize patient care in cardiology.
Wearable devices are transforming how we approach health and fitness, making it easier for everyone to stay informed and proactive about their health. For us as cardiologists, wearable devices offer a remarkable way to continuously monitor your vital signs, often without you even being aware of it. These devices can track your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and even provide a full electrocardiogram during extreme conditions such as intense physical exercise. This opportunity is a game-changer but we must also remember that these devices were not originally designed for medical use and therefore, several discussions must be had on the regulatory level and about data ownership and security, for example, who owns the data – the individual wearing the smartwatch or the device manufacturer? Another consideration is who is responsible for potentially life-threatening recordings when these are captured without the knowledge of doctors. Other topics that need to be addressed are data access and security.
Dr. Shirit Kazum is the founder of the sports cardiology clinic at Beilinson Hospital, one of Israel’s largest and most prominent medical centers known for leading the charge in implementing new innovative treatments for its patients.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Wearable technology is an essential tool for cardiologists
