Doctors say wearable smart tech can be helpful, but also has downsides
ByTanya Rivero
Monday, March 16, 2026
More and more people are turning to smartwatches and fitness trackers to monitor health factors like sleep, activity and even heart rate, but how helpful are they really?
Dr. Sarah Benish, MD, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, is studying the growing wearable tech trend
She’s the lead author of a new report published in Neurology, the Medical Journal of the American Academy of Neurology, whichstudies the brain
Dr. Benish says wearable tech should never replace doctors visits or standard medical tests, but can be a useful tool
“Whatever data you have access to, if you can share that with your clinical team, I think that will be the most helpful,” she said
The data can also help doctors better understand diseases such as epilepsy, migraines, and sleep disorders
“There’s so much information out there that we’ve never before been able to process,” Dr. Benish said. “So, my hope is that we’re going to be able to accumulate this data and work together.”
But one downside to increased use of these wearables is anxiety
Eyewitness News asked Dr. Benish what is a sign that having wearable tech is veering into the negative and stressing you out
“I think if you’re thinking about it all the time or checking the app or, having to have the same conversation again and again with your physician, that might be a sign,” Dr. Benish said
Scientists say it’s important to remember, most consumer wearables are not FDA-approved medical devices, and may give you inaccurate information
So, proceed, but with caution
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