Cromwell Hospital recently undertook research to better understand how the public are using their wearable heath technology.
Nearly half of adults track their health via wearable tech – but a quarter admit they have no idea what they are looking out for.
A study of 2,000 adults found 57% now wear some sort of tech which monitors their heart rate, steps, sleep and even blood pressure.
With 46% actively tracking their health and wellbeing via their watch, phone or smart ring.
However, 23% of those admit they don’t know what most of the information is telling them, with 60% having previously looked at data on their device without knowing what it means.
24% have completely ignored health alerts from their device, with heart rate (40%), activity levels (35%), and stress (32%) warnings the most commonly overlooked. Dr Neil Srinivasan, Consultant Cardiologist at Cromwell Hospital said: “Wearable technology has changed the way people monitor their health. From steps to sleep and heart rate, we now have a wealth of data at our fingertips, people need to know what they are looking out for.
“Worryingly, this lack of understanding is causing some to ignore alerts and signals which could indicate a serious health issue, particularly ones that are linked to our hearts. These alerts should not be ignored and should be checked out by a healthcare professional, who will be able to tell you what it means and if more investigations need to happen.
“We know that early diagnosis can be lifesaving. Using all the tools at our disposal, including wearable technology and preventative screenings, is key to maintaining good health particularly for your heart.”
The study also found steps taken (67%), heart rate (52%) and calories burned (46%) are the most common health areas to be tracked using wearable tech.
But just 17% understand the data from their device which could be linked to irregular heart rhythms and only 21% feel confident they can interpret the information on their respiratory rate.
Only 46% feel they understand heart rate data.
When struggling to understand what their wearable tech is telling them, 61% resort to searching online to see what it means, while 30% simply ignore it.
However, one in four (26%) admitted a lack of understanding of what their health data was telling them caused them to worry unnecessarily.
Despite this worry, the research, carried out via OnePoll, found 28% of those who track their health via wearable tech have sought medical advice after getting an alert or information related to their wellbeing.
For those who did get checked, 58% of those said it ended up being a minor issue, 21% claimed it was an indicator of a serious health concern. Highlighting the value of understanding what your wearable is telling you, and monitoring your data to notice any changes.
More than a third (35%) have also referenced the data from their wearable tech device when speaking to a medical professional, with 26% of those believing it led to an easier or faster diagnosis.
As technology continues to provide new ways of understanding our health, wearable data is increasingly being complemented by other tools that can also help people to identify their inherent risk of serious diseases years before symptoms develop.
Dr Srinivasan said: “Technology is allowing us to get far more information about our bodies than ever before, information that we previously would only be available from a doctor.
“Understanding the data to spot any early warning signs of health concerns that might not be quite as they should be, and get treatment faster, especially when it comes to our heart health.”
Top 20 aspects of health tracked via wearable tech
- Steps taken
- Heart rate (resting, average and active)
- Calories burned
- Sleep duration
- Distance travelled
- Active minutes
- Sleep quality and efficiency
- Heart rate variability (HRV)
- Blood pressure
- Sleep stages (light, deep and REM sleep)
- Stress levels
- Blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
- Respiratory rate (breaths per minute)
- Recovery status after exercise
- Sleep debt and recovery scores
- Hydration levels
- Irregular heart rhythms (e.g. possible atrial fibrillation)
- Relaxation and mindfulness tracking
- Menstrual cycle/ fertility levels
- Breathing disturbances during sleep
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