Smartwatches May Offer New Hope for Monitoring Pregnancy Health
Many pregnancies face hidden risks,but a new study published in lancet eBioMedicine suggests a readily available tool – the smartwatch or fitness tracker – could significantly improve early detection of potential complications.
Researchers at Scripps Research have found that wearable devices offer a unique prospect to address unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. The exciting part? Many women already own these devices and could benefit from their monitoring capabilities.
How Does it Work?
The study analyzed data from 5,600 participants, with detailed health data tracked for 108 pregnant women. Researchers discovered a correlation between heart rate data collected by the wearables and fluctuations in key pregnancy hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and HCG.
Specifically, they observed distinct heart rate patterns throughout pregnancy.Heart rate initially decreased, then steadily increased, peaking at 9.4 beats per minute above normal levels eight to nine weeks before delivery, before declining again post-birth. These changes mirrored known hormonal shifts during pregnancy.
Importantly, differing heart rate patterns were observed in a small number of cases involving miscarriage or stillbirth. This suggests wearables could potentially aid in the early detection of conditions like gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia, offering a crucial advantage, particularly for women with limited access to customary medical care.
The Future of Continuous Care
This research highlights the potential to transform consumer devices into continuous medical monitoring tools. While larger-scale studies are needed to confirm the reliability of the data,the findings point towards a promising future for proactive pregnancy health management.
