Tracking habits can help you achieve your goals and monitor your heart.
We use technology to follow social media and to lock our doors with a press of a button. It can also be beneficial for monitoring your heart health.
Negar Salehi, MD, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, says that trackers can benefit those who exercise regularly and wish to track their progress and fitness. It can also be helpful for those who have episodic heart-related symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or lightheadedness. And, if you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease already, taking steps to manage your health and symptoms is even more important. Many trackers have sensors that are very accurate in detecting and measuring your pulse or heart rate.
Dr. Salehi reviews some common types of health trackers: • Chest-band devices
use electrical detection to track your heart rate. They detect electrical activity through a band that wraps around your chest.
• Wrist or forearm wearables
have light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and sensors that rest against your skin. The sensors use LED light to detect tiny expansions of the blood vessels beneath the skin’s surface.
• Smartphones/smartwatches.
Various apps offer the ability to measure your pulse rate. These devices can also help you track your daily activities to ensure consistency and help you meet your heart health goals.
Habit-tracking for heart health benefits includes:
• Tracking heart rate during exercise.
• Monitoring stress and activity levels during the day.
• Tracking sleep quality at night.
• Monitoring vital signs at home. According to Dr. Salehi, health trackers are helpful tools when overseen by your primary care provider or cardiologist. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Salehi or another cardiologist at Akron General, call 330.344.2273. To find a complete listing of Cleveland Clinic cardiologists, visit ClevelandClinic.org/Cardiologists.