So what do you wear on your wrist? Maybe nothing, because your smartphone is always to hand. Or maybe a fitness tracker that constantly shows you all the details of your health? The trusty old wristwatch has served its time for many.
It’s actually really great when our wearables remind us that it’s time for a bit of exercise or a glass of water. Or when the heart rate monitor prevents us from overexerting ourselves. This is not a hobby for health fanatics: doctors are also convinced that wearables will become increasingly important in cardiology, for example.
However, as is so often the case, there are also downsides, as wearables can also encourage undesirable tendencies. A recent study in the Journal of the American Heart Association indicates that patients with atrial fibrillation who wear wearables often react with strong anxiety and fear to notifications about arrhythmias. And people who already tend to constantly monitor or optimize themselves can develop a certain dependency. Furthermore, there is no mandatory quality control for the devices available on the market. This means there is a risk of measurement errors and inappropriate medical recommendations. Last but not least, wearables collect a lot of personal data, which is a cause for concern in terms of data protection and data security.
The enormous possibilities of data collection and monitoring offer great opportunities, but also certain risks.
At the end of the day, doctors will have to be prepared not only to discuss health information found via Google, but also to discuss their patients’ nocturnal blood oxygen levels…