WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY IN CARDIAC HEALTH MONITORING

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for nearly 18 million deaths annually. Early detection, continuous monitoring, and timely intervention are critical to reducing adverse outcomes. Earlier hospital monitoring methods though accurate are limited by accessibility, cost, and patient compliance. In this context, wearable technology has emerged as a transformative innovation, shifting cardiac health monitoring from several clinical encounters to continuous patient centered surveillance. CVDs have long posed a significant threat to human health. The utilization of monitoring devices for performance assessment and its progress in medical science and technology, these devices are increasingly being embraced by practicing clinicians and the general population for health and fitness monitoring. These devices come in various forms, including smartwatches, bands, rings, and patches, and employ different sensors that allow integration with the human interface to identify signals using complex software algorithms to analyze the data. Companies like Apple, Fitbitand Garmin offer comparable products with similar features. All rely on optical photoplethysmography and electrocardiogram (ECG) to trace various health parameters. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the rapidly evolving field of wearable technology in cardiology. We examine the diverse applications of these devices, tracing their development and evaluating their accuracy and functionality. We explore their expanding role in monitoring physical activity and sleep, emphasizing their impact on cardiac health and potential in rehabilitation.