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In the beginning they were the pedometer. Useful, very useful to get an idea of the physical activity you do every day. Then came the pressure measurements via smartphone or smartwatch, the breath rhythm control, the almost constant monitoring of heart rate.
All important: these are tools that help us, without a doubt. But you must also be careful not to overdo it, especially when you are elderly, and to always do refer to the doctor. Otherwise, also thanks to the lockdown and social distancing, constant “technological” and above all “do-it-yourself” control can become a double-edged sword, increasing the risk of anxiety and psychological discomfort, especially in old age.
To remember how much technology can help but also that it doesn’t have to become a stress factor is a document by the experts of the European Society of Cardiology.
We always talk to the doctor
To warn from risks deriving from digital obsession are the experts of the Italian Society of Geriatric Cardiology (SICGe), who underline how under the pressure of the Covid emergency we have moved from compulsive Google consultation to self-measurement of all body parameters.
“All digital technologies, starting from smartphones, can represent a driving force for cardiovascular prevention and this is confirmed by the boom in sales of devices for monitoring heart function: from electronic bracelets to Apps, to smartwatches for the transmission of the electrocardiogram”, explains Alessandro Boccanelli, president of the Italian Society of Geriatric Cardiology (SICGe).
“In the year of the pandemic in Italy, spending on these instruments reached half a billion euros with a per capita expenditure of around 40 euros. The time has come to work on a path of care that begins with remote patient interaction. But don’t get confused self-monitoring with the diagnosis which must always be performed by the doctor, regardless of the technical data that cannot be substituted for the health worker. Instead there is the belief that by using them you can bypass the health professional who must always suggest their use, otherwise the risk is to make everyone feel a little sick. This is especially true for the elderly living at home, victims often unaware of an obsessive “do-it-yourself” control and more exposed to the risk of an excess of medicalization and increasing suffering and anxiety. It is not uncommon, for example, that the blood pressure device sends a warning message of a presumed atrial fibrillation but if the patient is not at risk he need not worry. We must therefore talk to your doctor always using the healthcare professional as a filter, understand if you are a person at risk, if it is appropriate to use digital technology and share data ”, Boccanelli specifies.
What to do?
The Covid emergency has given a significant boost and highlighted the key role of digital technology especially applied to cardiology. The continuous monitoring of vital parameters and the collection of related data which in these months of isolation and distancing have experienced a surge, however, have upset the balance of relationship between doctor and patient, especially for the elderly. For this reason it is important to keep in mind some simple rules and to know that smartphones, tablets and even i wearable devices they can help us in prevention and control, but remembering that the doctor is the point of reference also for tests that may be necessary, without falling into self-diagnosis.
- Wearable devices help us in welfare control and will allow early identification of non-visible pathological conditions that generally precede more serious health problems.
- They can help promote adherence to exercise therapy when physical activity is useful for controlling cardiovascular and / or metabolic problems, as well as helping to keep in mind the need for drugs or other treatments.
- For those who are active, a heart rate monitor which allows you to measure heartbeats, energy expenditure and the length of the path. In the future there may also be “augmented reality” glasses that can be worn during physical activity.
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