Portable And Wearable Tech Improves Access To Heart Care

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If you’re concerned about the health of your heart, you’re not alone. Heart disease is very common, and in the United States, somebody experiences a heart attack every 40 seconds. Cardiac arrest can occur suddenly and without warning, and some heart attacks are silent, causing damage without you even being aware. With the increasing use of easily available technology, both you and your doctor can now closely monitor your heart health in any setting. From increasing the accessibility of commercial medical equipment to taking advantage of the data gathering capabilities of smart watches, portable technology can be invaluable in regularly monitoring heart rhythm, quickly identifying abnormalities, and ultimately saving lives.

Treating Cardiac Arrest In Public Locations

Anyone who’s watched a medical drama on TV will be familiar with the life saving potential of a quick shock to the heart with an automated external defibrillator (AED). It’s reassuring to know that AEDs are now increasingly being installed in public places such as offices and shopping malls, where anyone can use them to save the life of someone who is experiencing cardiac arrest. It is estimated that at least 1700 lives are saved each year through the use of portable AEDs, but this figure could be greater if more of us knew how to find the equipment and use it effectively. Learning how to use an AED is safe and efficient with the use of a training machine which simulates all the functions without live electricity. When extra training is combined with making defibrillators more visible and ensuring AEDs are ready for an emergency at all times, more people are in a position to perform a potentially life-saving procedure.

 Portable ECG Machines Identify Abnormalities Early

If you have ever experienced problems with your heart rhythm, you may have had your heart monitored by an electrocardiogram (ECG) device. By measuring the electrical activity of a resting heart rate, it can reveal abnormalities in rate and rhythm, track enlargement due to high blood pressure, and even pick up traces of a previously undiagnosed heart attack. Getting to the doctors for regular check-ups isn’t always easy, but, without compromising on the accuracy of data transmission, portable and home-based ECG machines mean that you can have your heart monitored anytime, without leaving the house. This flexibility means that issues such as angina or heart palpitations can be spotted early, allowing you to receive prompt treatment before developing more serious heart conditions.

 Wearable Tech To Monitor Heart Rate And Rhythm

Whether you like to get detailed feedback from a workout session, or you just want to keep track of the number of steps you take every day, a smart watch is a very useful gadget to own. Now, together with other wearable sensors that measure physiological signals, your smartwatch can be used more specifically to manage your heart health with a medical focus. When information gathered from your wearable tech is used in clinical diagnosis, your doctor can check your heart for abnormal rhythms, such as those caused by atrial fibrillation, often linked to a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.

Heart attacks can happen at any time and in any location. It’s reassuring to know that advanced portable technology used to observe heart rhythms, promptly spot potential problems, and even perform defibrillation could not only improve your heart health, but even save your life one day.