Whether it’s on your wrist, your finger or your phone, health-tracking devices are surging in popularity with users wanting a deeper understanding of their well-being.Even medical professionals are embracing the wearable technology.“I think there are lots of elements of wearable devices that are very trustworthy. I think the key thing is recognizing how and when to use the information,” says Dr. Calum MacRae with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.MacRae says it’s important to be aware of what they can and cannot do, despite what some might advertise.“There are many devices in the market where people have said, ‘Oh, there’s this score or there’s this metric,’ and in many instances, those are not very well validated at all,” says MacRae.Even the Food and Drug Administration put out a warning not to use smartwatches or rings that say they can measure blood sugar levels. The agency says the devices can’t deliver on that promise and are not approved for that kind of use. As for heart-related readings on your device, MacRae says the electrocardiogram feature on your wearable is something you can likely trust.“For certain parameters like heart rate, the variability in your heart rate, your breathing rate, your temperature, sometimes even your oxygen saturation, those are not too bad. They’re quite accurate,” says MacRae.As for other health tracking data, MacRae says not to focus too much on just one spike.“A single piece of information, a single point estimate on a day, an afternoon, is not necessarily the best way of using them. It might be if it’s a very specific finding, but in general, the thing that’s most important is the trend,” says MacRae.He adds that overall, these wearable tools are only getting better and smarter with time.“I think you’re going to see the quality of sensors and the rigor with which they’re used progressively improve in wearables and in consumer technologies,” says MacRae.What’s next, he hopes, is a better connection between your wearable device and your doctor.“The best use of them is as an adjunct to working with your clinician,” says MacRae.MacRae says the best way to find out if a feature on your device is really accurate is to check if it’s approved by the FDA.A recent study found that those who wear a fitness tracker move an extra 50 minutes per week. Other studies have shown that the devices can pick up on problematic sleep patterns.
BOSTON —
Whether it’s on your wrist, your finger or your phone, health-tracking devices are surging in popularity with users wanting a deeper understanding of their well-being.
Even medical professionals are embracing the wearable technology.
“I think there are lots of elements of wearable devices that are very trustworthy. I think the key thing is recognizing how and when to use the information,” says Dr. Calum MacRae with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
MacRae says it’s important to be aware of what they can and cannot do, despite what some might advertise.
“There are many devices in the market where people have said, ‘Oh, there’s this score or there’s this metric,’ and in many instances, those are not very well validated at all,” says MacRae.
Even the Food and Drug Administration put out a warning not to use smartwatches or rings that say they can measure blood sugar levels. The agency says the devices can’t deliver on that promise and are not approved for that kind of use.
As for heart-related readings on your device, MacRae says the electrocardiogram feature on your wearable is something you can likely trust.
“For certain parameters like heart rate, the variability in your heart rate, your breathing rate, your temperature, sometimes even your oxygen saturation, those are not too bad. They’re quite accurate,” says MacRae.
As for other health tracking data, MacRae says not to focus too much on just one spike.
“A single piece of information, a single point estimate on a day, an afternoon, is not necessarily the best way of using them. It might be if it’s a very specific finding, but in general, the thing that’s most important is the trend,” says MacRae.
He adds that overall, these wearable tools are only getting better and smarter with time.
“I think you’re going to see the quality of sensors and the rigor with which they’re used progressively improve in wearables and in consumer technologies,” says MacRae.
What’s next, he hopes, is a better connection between your wearable device and your doctor.
“The best use of them is as an adjunct to working with your clinician,” says MacRae.
MacRae says the best way to find out if a feature on your device is really accurate is to check if it’s approved by the FDA.
A recent study found that those who wear a fitness tracker move an extra 50 minutes per week. Other studies have shown that the devices can pick up on problematic sleep patterns.
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