How Smartwatches Help Detect Hidden Heart Problems

Recent medical research shows that smartwatches can play a major role in detecting heart problems early, even before symptoms appear.

A study conducted by the Amsterdam University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that modern smartwatches help users identify heart conditions more effectively than traditional monitoring methods.

Study Focused on High-Risk Heart Patients

The research involved 437 patients, including 219 people aged 65 and above, a group considered at higher risk for heart disease.

Out of the total participants, 219 patients were asked to wear smartwatches, including Apple Watches and other brands, for 12 hours a day. These devices were equipped with PPG sensors, which measure blood flow, and ECG technology, which records heart rhythm.

The remaining 218 participants used conventional heart-monitoring tools, such as chest-attached devices and portable equipment provided by healthcare professionals.

Smartwatches Detected More Heart Conditions

After six months of monitoring, the results showed a significant difference.

Researchers discovered that 21 people wearing smartwatches were diagnosed with heart problems. More importantly, smartwatch users detected heart rhythm abnormalities four times more often than those using traditional monitoring devices.

This indicates that continuous monitoring provides a clearer picture of heart health compared to short-term medical tests.

Why Traditional Methods Miss Some Heart Issues

According to Dr. Michiel Winter, a cardiology expert at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, traditional heart-monitoring methods have limitations.

“Conventional monitoring usually lasts only a few days or, at most, two weeks,” he explained. “After that period, it often fails to detect irregular heart rhythms.”

Dr. Winter noted that many heart conditions occur sporadically, making them difficult to catch during brief medical examinations.

Smartwatches Enable Long-Term Heart Monitoring

The study also revealed that many people live with heart conditions without knowing it. Since they feel healthy, they rarely seek medical checkups.

Smartwatches help bridge this gap by offering long-term, real-time heart monitoring. They can alert users when abnormal heart activity occurs, prompting them to seek medical advice early.

Health experts say this technology could significantly reduce complications caused by undiagnosed heart diseases, especially among older adults.