<https://9to5mac.com/guides/apple-health/> Health experts have been
discussing the pros & cons of <https://9to5mac.com/guides/apple-watch/>
Apple Watch, <https://9to5mac.com/guides/fitbit/> Fitbit, and similar
devices. While the consensus is that they do more good than harm, they
caution that the increasing amount of health data presented to consumers can
cause confusion and even anxiety.
In extreme cases, this can lead to people compulsively taking multiple ECG
readings per day .
<https://www.cnet.com/features/smartwatches-and-fitness-bands-arent-medical-
devices-but-theyre-starting-to-act-like-them/#ftag=CAD590a51e> CNET has an
in-depth piece looking at the issue. It stresses that the overall picture is
positive.
The medical experts CNET spoke with [.] believe wearables do more good than
harm when it comes to health management.
By making consumers more aware of their overall level of health and fitness,
smartwatches and fitness bands can encourage people to do more exercise and
improve their diet.
However, there is growing concern that the increasing presentation of
clinical data to untrained individuals can lead to confusion - especially as
we
<https://9to5mac.com/2022/01/09/report-apple-still-several-years-away-from-a
dding-major-new-health-sensors-to-apple-watch/> move toward additional data
like
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/01/apple-watch-blood-pressure-measurement/>
blood pressure and
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/07/14/non-invasive-blood-sugar-measurement/> blood
sugar measurements.
"I do get nervous, honestly, when I see more data types that are more truly
clinical being used in a consumer way," said Dr. Devin Mann, associate
professor of population health and medicine at New York University Langone
Health. "Because the conditions tied to those data types are a little
scarier, and people get scared easier" [.]
Dr. Lindsey Rosman, assistant professor of medicine at the University of
North Carolina School of Medicine's cardiology division, has been studying
the relationship between smartwatch readings and health-related anxiety [.]
"As a researcher, I think it's a fantastic tool," said Rosman. "As a
clinician in a cardiology clinic in particular, I think it opens the door to
a lot of questions and concerns from patients that are currently being
unaddressed."
In one extreme case, a Fitbit user ended up taking up to 20 ECG readings a
day, with growing anxiety, because he didn't understand that a message
saying the result was
"inconclusive" just meant that his Fitbit wasn't able to get a good signal.
Companies like Apple and Fitbit do their best to educate users about the
meaning and limitations of the data, but many feel that more is needed.
One possible solution could be clinically supervised chatbots that can
answer some questions when a wearer's doctor might not be available, says
Mann.
Mount Sinai's Dr. Zahi Fayad told CNET he would like to see more tools for
easily sharing data from these devices with doctors, an option that
companies like Apple, Fitbit, Oura and Whoop already offer to some degree
today.
Julie Ask, a vice president and principal analyst at Forrester who has
studied digital wellness at length, wants metrics that provide concrete
advice. "Telling me that I sleep better when I go to bed at the same time
every night? Not an insight," Ask said. "What we need is insight." She hopes
to see these health apps take other factors into account, such as your first
scheduled meeting for the next morning and your current exercise habits, to
craft more personalized tips.
<https://www.cnet.com/features/smartwatches-and-fitness-bands-arent-medical-
devices-but-theyre-starting-to-act-like-them/#ftag=CAD590a51e> The full
piece is an interesting read.
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