CNET Warns Smartwatches Can Fuel Health Anxiety, Citing 900 ECGs in 1 Year
Updated
Updated · CNET · Sep 15
CNET Warns Smartwatches Can Fuel Health Anxiety, Citing 900 ECGs in 1 Year
1 articles · Updated · CNET · Sep 15
Summary
A CNET analysis says constant smartwatch alerts, symptom searches and app-based AI advice can worsen health anxiety even in otherwise healthy users.
One case cited by cardiologist Lindsey Rosman involved a patient who ran more than 900 smartwatch ECGs in a year; inconclusive alerts led to ER visits, family strain and therapy.
Experts interviewed for the piece recommend turning off triggering alerts, checking data less often, focusing on weekly or monthly trends and treating wearable readings as prompts for doctor conversations—not diagnoses.
Rosman said evidence remains limited, though her 2024 AFib study found about half of participants checked heart rate daily out of habit and wearable users sent nearly twice as many portal messages to doctors.
The article says wearables can still help some users feel safer and more in control, but people whose reassurance depends on constant checking may need to remove the device and consider cognitive behavioral therapy.