In the past, electrocardiogram (ECG) machines were only used in doctors' offices and hospitals. You know that exercise is smart for your heart and good for you. But do you really know how much physical activity you're doing? And how can you get more, day after day, for your heart health? A fitness tracker can help. Studies show that consistent use of a fitness tracker, a device that tracks your movements, such as a traditional pedometer or other portable device, or a smartphone app, can increase your daily steps by more than a mile, especially if you set a heart-smart daily goal.
Keeping an objective daily record can make people realize how little exercise they're doing, Martin says, which can recalibrate their thinking and become an incentive. People find ways to add more activity to their day, whether it's walking or going to the gym, walking during meetings or personal calls, or simply climbing the stairs instead of using the elevator. Follow these five tips and you'll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle and heart. Also be prepared for doctors to learn and introduce even better ways to use these devices.
In the MacTive study, a randomized clinical trial, Martin and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins tested an automated, personalized, real-time program that sent counseling text messages to cardiology patients based on data from a portable device connected to their phone. In the short term, this training system helped increase the number of steps by more than one mile per day, beyond simple tracking. Martin points out that collaborating researchers tested the MacActive program on other patients in NIH-funded research on patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, in which an increase in physical activity was also observed. He hopes that the system will be more validated and used as part of routine clinical care.
Currently, with support from the American Heart Association, Martin and his colleagues are incorporating automatic physical activity training MacTive into a virtual cardiac rehabilitation program for patients who have had cardiovascular events. The ABCs of moving more to improve heart health. The first advantage of a fitness tracker is that it helps you easily track your training activities. Manufacturers equip fitness trackers with a variety of sensors that measure specific activities without your intervention, making the whole process easier.
Most fitness trackers transmit data related to your cardiovascular status based on your heart rate during and after physical activity. If your goal is to improve your cardiovascular fitness, fitness trackers can provide you with information to help you achieve it. If you're new to the world of fitness devices, you should know that there's a difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker. Fitness trackers can be a great source of motivation and help you achieve your long-term fitness goals.
If you're trying to achieve your fitness goals and can't find a way to measure your progress, a fitness tracker can help.
