5 WAYS FITNESS TRACKERS CAN CATCH EARLY SIGNS OF HEALTH ISSUES AS YOU AGE

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Steinhoff, MD

Fitness trackers are wearable devices, such as smartwatches, rings, and wristbands, that use sensors to monitor your activity, sleep, and other health data. Wearing one may help you stay active and even spot early signs of potential health issues. 

1. Heart Arrhythmias 

Many fitness trackers monitor your heart rate and may be sensitive enough to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common type of heart arrhythmia that causes palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath. AFib occurs when the heart's upper chambers (atria) beat irregularly and out of sync with the heart's lower chambers (ventricles), increasing the risk of developing heart failure and stroke. 

Research shows that a modern fitness tracker may be almost as accurate as a 12-lead electrocardiogram at detecting atrial fibrillation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved certain wearables to detect atrial fibrillation, including:

• Apple Watch
• Garmin
• Fitbit
• Samsung

Early detection and treatment of atrial fibrillation is an effective way to lower the risk of stroke. However, fitness trackers are not 100% accurate and may produce false positive results, causing people to believe they’re experiencing atrial fibrillation when they’re not. Wearing a fitness tracker cannot replace an exam from a healthcare provider. 

2. COVID-19 Infection

By monitoring your temperature, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV), fitness trackers can alert you when you may be coming down with certain illnesses. 

Research suggests fitness trackers may help detect early signs of COVID-19, with studies showing moderate to high sensitivity and specificity. Having a high sensitivity means that fitness trackers can correctly identify people with COVID-19, and having a high specificity means that the trackers can effectively rule out people who do not have the infection. 

However, more research is needed to determine how reliable fitness trackers are at recognizing signs of COVID-19. 

3. Sleep Disorders

Wearing a fitness tracker at night may help you spot early signs of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. 

People with sleep apnea experience low oxygen levels during sleep due to frequent pauses in breathing. Usually, when you stop breathing at night, your body wakes you up to resume breathing. This can lead to very disrupted sleep and daytime fatigue. 

When a fitness tracker monitors your heart rate, oxygen level, and sleep quality, it may detect signs of a sleep disorder. The FDA approved the Apple Watch to detect possible red flags of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

While smartwatches can be an effective screening tool for sleep disorders, they cannot provide a diagnosis. 

4. Falls

People at risk of falls may choose to wear certain fitness trackers that can detect and report falls. Many smartwatches can detect a sudden fall. You can change your watch settings to allow it to contact emergency services if it detects a fall. 

However, research found that fitness trackers are prone to false positives for falls, meaning they may detect and report a fall unnecessarily. Any sudden movement may register as a fall.  

5. Stress

Some fitness trackers measure heart rate variability (HRV), which is the variation in the time intervals between heartbeats. The autonomic nervous system regulates it. In general, having a higher HRV is preferable. A greater variability means your heart can respond more effectively to changes and stress. People with a higher HRV may be able to cope with stress more effectively. 

Experiencing acute or chronic stress affects the autonomic nervous system, triggering increased heart rate and decreased HRV. By tracking your HRV, a fitness tracker can offer real-time stress insights. 

If you notice that your HRV is lower than normal, you could practice stress management techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness. Research shows that practicing stress management regularly can improve a person’s HRV. 

When you monitor your HRV with a fitness tracker, you may be able to identify times of stress and manage them right away. While this approach takes time and focus, it can be an effective way to help manage chronic stress. 

Limitations

Many fitness trackers can provide helpful health data that may help you identify health problems early. However, it’s important to understand their limitations. Wearing a fitness tracker can never replace seeing your primary healthcare provider regularly. 

Fitness trackers are not medical-grade devices, so their data is not as accurate as tests from your healthcare provider. They also cannot catch every health condition or concerning sign.

Read the original article on Verywell Health

2026-04-10T14:03:35Z