The Apple Watch Is Giving Wearers Control Over Their Health, but Some Doctors Say Consumers Are Taking It Too Far

The Apple Watch is the first mass-market product with an electrocardiogram, and some doctors are concerned that such wearables could be detrimental to consumers if it provides erroneous information that leads to needless tests and procedures, reports CNBC . One anxiety among many practitioners is that this can bring health risks and added costs to an already overwhelmed healthcare system. Critics also have reservations about misinformation, especially with a recent array of unconfirmed assertions that the Apple Watch is saving lives. However, many studies have found that consumers are becoming more informed about their health than ever thanks to new technologies. "The Apple Watch could give doctors a new way to communicate with their customers," says Stanford University Professor Oliver Aalami. David Albert, founder of heart health technology company AliveCor, suggests artificial intelligence will eventually filter the information from wearables that doctors use. The challenge is to avoid submitting an "avalanche of inconsequential data," he notes.