Apple Watch is often praised for helping people track and manage health and emergency situations. Many users have reported how their watch helped them detect heart disease early by sending them irregular heartbeat notifications and tracking heart health through features like ECG. While Apple Watch users are relying on their smartwatches, doctors are also now considering Apple Watch as an important tool for tracking health, especially in diagnosing and managing heart disease.

Dr. Rod Passman, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at Northwestern Medicine, recently emphasized the usefulness of the Apple Watch. According to him, this device now plays a key role in healthcare, helping to monitor heart rhythms and aid in recovery after surgery. “It has a lot of health benefits… It empowers patients to be involved in their health care. It allows them to understand how lifestyle choices can affect their health. And from my perspective, it allows me to do long-term, remote monitoring of my patients, no matter where they are in the world, to understand what’s happening with their heart rhythms, just by doing an EKG from the watch itself,” Passman said in an interview with CBS News.

“So I think this is a very powerful tool, and many of us are using it not only to diagnose diseases, but potentially to manage diseases such as abnormal rhythms.”

However, despite the convenience and accessibility that the Apple Watch and other devices provide, Dr. Passman highlights the importance of medical-level confirmation before beginning any treatment. “The diagnosis is not made simply because your watch tells you something is wrong, but it can be a helpful tool in assisting the process. We always want to get medical-level confirmation before beginning any treatment. However, we understand that it is a very accurate tool for detecting abnormal rhythms, and certainly the EKG that is done, when interpreted by a skilled physician, can be incredibly powerful,” he told CBS.

According to Passman, the integration of smart devices like the Apple Watch into healthcare not only facilitates real-time monitoring and data collection, but also increases patient engagement and awareness. Patients can track their heart health and share data with their healthcare providers, allowing for more informed decision-making and personalized care plans.

In addition, the ease of access and use of these devices means that individuals can monitor their health without needing to frequently visit the hospital. This remote monitoring capability can be particularly beneficial for patients living in remote areas or with mobility issues, ensuring they receive consistent care regardless of their location. “I really encourage my patients to buy a device that is compatible with the phone they have and fits within their cost limits,” he said.

Apple Watch 9 Health Features

Notably, Apple introduced its latest Apple Watch 9 last year. The Apple Watch Series 9 has several health features designed to provide valuable information and improve health. Its heart health monitoring capabilities include detecting abnormally high or low heart rates and irregular rhythms (arrhythmias), alerting users through notifications in the Heart Rate app. This helps users take timely action and consult their doctors. Additionally, the Blood Oxygen app measures blood oxygen levels, and the ECG app can generate an electrocardiogram similar to a single-lead ECG, providing important data for users and healthcare providers.

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Series 9 also includes more safety features like Crash Detection, which can help users detect car crashes and hard falls, automatically connecting them to emergency services, sharing their location, and notifying emergency contacts.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 features extra durability and an 86-decibel siren that can be heard up to 180 meters away. The cycle tracking sensor monitors temperature during sleep to predict ovulation retrospectively, aiding in family planning. The Sleep app helps establish bedtime routines and gives information about sleep stages, contributing to overall health and well-being.