Fitness Trackers & Wearables - Health or Hype?

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, cardiologist and internal medicine physician Dr. Rohin Francis. Rohin is also a writer, comedian, and creator of the YouTube channel Medlife Crisis, where he tackles fascinating and offbeat science topics that don’t get covered elsewhere. On today’s episode, he covers the spectrum of all things exercise and cardiovascular disease related, with a sprinkle of humor (of course), and answers the burning question—is there such a thing as too much exercise? He may also help save you a few bucks as you eye up the latest flashy fitness tracker. 

Danielle and Rohin discuss:  

• How much exercise the average person needs weekly to accrue health benefits  
• The causes of atrial fibrillation (A-fib) in high-performance athletes  
• Target heart rate training and the importance of moderate exercise  
• The advantages and disadvantages of smart tracking health and fitness devices   
• The data surrounding heart rate variability and what we actually need to worry about   
• The fascinating results of the Apple Watch study   
• Harmful physical and emotional effects of medical over-screening 

Dr. Rohin Francis is a Consultant Cardiologist and a Doctoral Researcher at the University College London with a passion for science communication and education. Dr. Francis got his MBBS from St George's Hospital Medical School and trained as a physician at the Cambridge Deanery (Cambridge, UK) with a subspecialization in coronary intervention. Currently, Dr. Francis is undertaking a PhD on imaging techniques for acute myocardial infarction at University College London. Rohin has presented around the world and has been published extensively, including in The Guardian and numerous academic journals and websites. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Rohin @medcrisis. 

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