Wearable devices like smartwatches are becoming more popular and advanced. For people with heart issues, they can offer valuable data, such as alerts about unusual heart rate and rhythm. However, a recent study in the Journal of the American Heart Association indicated that using wearables for monitoring heart conditions like atrial fibrillation—an irregular heartbeat—can increase people’s anxiety about their health. This creates a dilemma: though the device might help in managing a chronic heart condition better, wearing it might cause anxiety, which could worsen these conditions. So, what are the compromises? How can we benefit from wearables without unnecessary anxiety? Wearables are increasingly important for managing and detecting conditions like atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder.
Atrial fibrillation impacts roughly 2% of the general population and about 5% of individuals over 55. Symptoms can include palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath, though some patients may experience few symptoms. Effective self-management is crucial to enhance life quality and prevent issues like stroke and heart failure. Often, people with atrial fibrillation also face high levels of anxiety related to their condition. Psychological distress—such as anxiety, depression, and worries about symptoms—affects between 25% and 50% of those with the condition. Wearable devices can assist individuals in understanding and monitoring their condition by delivering heart rate and rhythm data, along with alerts for atrial fibrillation episodes. This can help in understanding their disease’s impact, especially for those with paroxysmal (or intermittent) atrial fibrillation.
One study demonstrated that smartwatches were very effective at detecting abnormal heart rhythms and could assist in managing and even preventing them. However, any benefits of using wearables to monitor atrial fibrillation need to be weighed against the high levels of anxiety people with this condition experience, to ensure their use does not worsen psychological distress. For many, having reliable, objective, and personalized health data can boost feelings of confidence, safety, and security, especially when combined with symptom trackers or patient journals.
This might enable patients to manage their condition at home with their families, minimizing hospital visits and reducing anxiety and stress. In clinical settings, data may also motivate patients to engage in shared decision-making. By interpreting health data alongside doctors or other healthcare professionals, they can establish goals and action plans, including knowing when to contact a GP or visit the hospital. Patients who grasp their condition tend to report fewer atrial fibrillation symptoms. The study in the Journal of the American Heart Association looked at the behavior and wellbeing of 172 people with atrial fibrillation over nine months.
It found that the 83 individuals using wearables to track their condition were more concerned about their symptoms and treatment, with 20% experiencing “intense anxiety.” Chronic anxiety can lead to stress, burnout, and poor physical health, which can worsen heart conditions. Previous research has also examined the effects of wearables on patients with long-term conditions, such as heart disease. Participants in this study similarly reported increased anxiety while using these devices, as one stated: I am someone who worries about things. I get concerned about myself […] and I thought, this is silly. This reminds me daily […], I wonder how good or bad my readings are […]. Each time I began thinking about it, I started thinking about my illness. Some individuals also describe feeling like “a prisoner of the numbers.” They feel the need to keep checking the device to gauge how they were doing, which can lead to the device taking over their lives.
The volume and frequency of notifications, alarms, and vibrations from wearable devices can be overwhelming and heighten health concerns. Information overload can also deter self-management, with notifications prompting individuals to seek medical advice more frequently than they typically would. But this isn’t always negative. For some, low health or digital literacy—being unsure of how to use the devices or interpret the data—can cause such stress or anxiety that they stop using wearables altogether. In the future, digital devices could offer a comprehensive view of health and wellbeing through a “digital phenotype,” which would combine data like sleep patterns, weight changes, and physical activity.
However, more research is needed to fully understand how wearables—including their notifications and alerts—impact patients’ anxiety levels. If you already use a wearable device for health monitoring, it might be helpful to regularly assess the data and notification settings. You might find it beneficial to discuss how you use your device to aid in self-managing your condition with your doctor or nurse. With any chronic illness, having a management action plan is crucial, including discussing with your healthcare provider when to seek care, like visiting the emergency room or GP.