A fitness tracker could be more useful than just helping you lose weight. The data it collects about your body could one day save your life.
That was the case for 73-year-old Patricia Lauder from Connecticut, who noticed her Fitbit registering an unusually high resting heart rate of over 140 beats per minute, much higher than her usual 60-70. She had already seen a doctor after a recent infection and was awaiting results, but the data was alarming enough to make her call 911 and head to the emergency room.
At the hospital, X-rays revealed a blood clot in both lungs, which was forcing her heart to work faster to compensate for the lower oxygen levels.
If left untreated, a large clot that cuts off blood flow to the lungs can be fatal.
She received treatment for the clots, which disappeared within 24 hours, with her lungs and heart now functioning normally.
However, this is not the first time a Fitbit has saved a user.
Last year, a 42-year-old man's Fitbit Charge HR helped his doctors quickly decide on the right treatment for him, as they were able to gather data about his history from the app. The app showed exactly when his heart rate went up, so they could say with more certainty what caused it.
While these wearables are certainly not intended to take the place of medical equipment, they are another source of data that could alert you or your doctors to an unusual change that you might not have otherwise noticed.
