Smoking, physical inactivity, being overweight, and poor diet are just a few of the risk factors for heart disease reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The organization goes on to state that 49 percent of Americans have at least one of these risk factors. Fortunately, ReactDx, creators of innovative Holter patch technology, know that patients can take steps to reduce their risks for heart disease. One method is to utilize the new features installed on the Apple Watch.
Cardiogram, along with Apple Inc., designed two new features for the Apple Watch that will get the device-users up and moving around. Not only does increased physical activity assist with weight loss, but it also benefits the heart by improving cholesterol levels, maximizing circulation throughout the body, and reducing inflammation. The two features have been given the names “Leaderboards” and “Workout Zones.”
The Leaderboards feature was created to be used with friends. It allows a group of people to keep tabs on each other. When one individual sees his or her friend has become more active, it motivates them to do a little more. This is an excellent form of accountability. Men’s Fitness points out that having a workout partner keeps one motivated, makes the exercising more fun and encourages a person to go above and beyond what they normally would.
The Workout Zones feature is a little different in that it tracks the intensity of each workout so users can see if they met their target heart rate during the workout, and if they sustained it for the recommended amount of time.
Cardiogram is also working on a new study with UCSF Cardiology using the information gathered from these features to predict and prevent heart disease. In fact, Mobihealthnews reported that the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor was able to detect atrial fibrillation with 97 percent accuracy.
With heart disease being labeled as the “silent killer,” predicting and preventing it is of the utmost importance. In addition to the new features on the Apple Watch, ReactDx’s state-of-the-art Holter Patch will help physicians get a good picture of their patient’s cardiovascular health status. Contact ReactDx at 800-234-3278 if you have any questions, or learn more by visiting our news & updates page.
