American Heart Association News: Watch Your Heart Rate, But Don't Obsess About It

Keeping track of your heart rate is probably a good thing. Obsessing about it probably isn't.

That's one drawback of the increasing popularity of wearable devices that constantly monitor heart rates, said Dr. Tracy Stevens, a cardiologist at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute.

A 2013 study published in the journal Heart of nearly 3,000 men in Denmark showed the risk of death increased by 16% for every 10 beats per minute increase in resting heart rate. But Stevens said she is far more focused on high blood pressure, obesity, smoking and other risk factors for heart disease.

Dr. Stevens explains what to look for when checking your heart rate and why that is only a piece of the whole picture.

Read the full American Heart Association News article: Watch Your Heart Rate, But Don't Obsess About It

Related Content

Feb. 10, 2021
KCTV: Heart health risk factors on the rise amid pandemic
KCTV talked to Dr. Tracy Stevens about what people can do to combat concerning risk factors amid the pandemic and take ownership of their health.
Feb. 10, 2021
Health News You Can Use: Updates on COVID-19 on the Heart
On this week's Health News You Can Use, we talk about if it is safe for people with heart issues to get the COVID-19 vaccine and about how the virus affects the heart.
Feb. 5, 2021
KSHB: National Wear Red for Women Day 2021
KSHB talked to Dr. Tracy Stevens about the number one health threat for women and how the pandemic has played a role.