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In addition to heart rate, tracking the heart\u2019s rhythm \u2014 the pattern<\/i> of the heart beats \u2014 is something Dr. Jacqueline sees her patients becoming interested in. \u201cWithin the last 10 years, patients and<\/i> clinicians have come to trust consumer heart health features like FDA-cleared electrocardiography (ECG) apps to inform cardiac care,\u201d she says. Last year, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology released updated guidelines on the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common arrhythmia that affects nearly 50 million people globally. \u201cAmong patients with atrial fibrillation in whom cardiac monitoring is advised, the guidelines say it\u2019s reasonable to recommend use of a consumer-accessible ECG device to detect recurrences,\u201d says Dr. Jacqueline.<\/p>\n
Fitbit Sense, Fitbit Sense 2, Fitbit Charge 5 and Charge 6 and Google Pixel Watch (both the first-generation and Pixel Watch 2) all feature the ECG app. This is a test that measures your heart\u2019s electrical activity to look for normal rhythm and signs irregular rhythm that may be signs of AFib, and Dr. Jacqueline says using this app can be a great way to advocate for your health. In addition to the on demand ECG heart assessment, you\u2019ll get a notification on your wrist and in the Fitbit app when your heart rate is above or below your set resting threshold. \u201cWhen my patients show me ECGs from consumer health devices, it\u2019s a great moment to celebrate health literacy,\u201d says Dr. Jacqueline. \u201cIt\u2019s information that patients have historically not had easy access to, and it can be really empowering.\u201d To turn on and enable notifications from the ECG app, open the Fitbit app on your phone and navigate to the \u201chealth assessments\u201d tab.<\/p>\n
Yes, exercise and movement are important for cardiac health, but so is sleep. \u201cDon\u2019t forget the importance of sleep for heart health,\u201d says Dr. Jacqueline. \u201cResearch shows that poor sleep may increase risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as high blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.\u201d You can make use of Fitbit\u2019s sleep features \u2014 like tracking your sleep stages, setting sleep goals and checking out your Sleep Score \u2014 to make sure you\u2019re not just getting enough sleep, but high quality sleep. Another tool is Premium\u2019s Daily Readiness Score, which takes into account your sleep as well as your heart rate variability and recent activity to tell you what kind of workout you\u2019re best prepared for, so you know if you\u2019re up for something that really gets your heart pumping or if you\u2019re in need of a rest day \u2014 because both are equally important. \u201cYour heart thanks you for the work your body performs and the rest you give it, day and<\/i> night,\u201d Dr. Jacqueline says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n