Doctor warns wearable fitness trackers can backfire, despite Rory McIlroy's success

The roar of nan crowd astatine nan Masters is simply a acquainted sound, but during Rory McIlroy's last spread victory, he was search a different benignant of data: nan hit of his heart.

As nan golfer secured his win, his wearable device revealed a bosom complaint of 117 thumps per infinitesimal connected his first putt, soaring to 150 during nan post-win celebration, according to information released from his fittingness wearable connected Monday.

New York-based aesculapian master Dr. Mike Varshavski joined big Lawrence Jones connected Fox & Friends connected Tuesday to talk whether these wearable devices are improving public health aliases simply fueling a caller era of aesculapian stress.

ARTHUR C. BROOKS DISCUSSES HOW TO FIND MEANING AND HAPPINESS IN A TECH-DRIVEN WORLD

For McIlroy, nan instrumentality functions arsenic some a capacity locator and a instrumentality for managing nan golfer’s semipermanent heart condition.

He shared his myocarditis diagnosis, which he received astatine nan property of 20, successful a podcast question and reply pinch nan marque Whoop.

Rory McIlroy celebrates aft winning nan Masters Tournament astatine Augusta National Golf Club successful Augusta, Georgia, connected April 12, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)

"I tin deterioration WHOOP, and I tin show my HRV, my bosom complaint ... conscionable to beryllium capable to support connected apical of that, it conscionable gives maine monolithic bid of mind," he said.

However, Varshavski shared a different sentiment of consumer wearables. While acknowledging their worth for "a large diversion event, PGA circuit [or] master sports," nan expert expressed interest for nan mean user.

DEMENTIA RISK COULD BE TIED TO YOUR MINDSET AND OUTLOOK ON LIFE, STUDY SUGGESTS

"I would ne'er urge a consumer-grade instrumentality to way a existent medical condition. This is not what these devices are intended to do."

Jones, an avid personification of aggregate devices, including nan Whoop, Oura Ring and Apple Watch, shared that nan information helps him drawback up connected deficits and understand his recovery.

"I would ne'er urge a consumer-grade instrumentality to way a existent aesculapian condition. This is not what these devices are intended to do," Dr. Mike said.  (iStock)

"Sometimes you don't understand if you're successful a heavy sleep, for example, aliases you whitethorn person gotten 8 hours, but you weren't really, you were tossing and turning," Jones noted.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Varshavski countered that an obsession pinch these metrics tin really backfire.

"When you commencement losing way of that by focusing connected nan numbers, not really you really feel, I consciousness that disconnects you pinch your ain body," he cautioned.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"We person a aesculapian word for this called orthosomnia, wherever we go truthful obsessed pinch these fittingness trackers and nan slumber data, but it really fuels sleep anxiety."

"I would ne'er urge a consumer-grade instrumentality to way a existent aesculapian condition. This is not what these devices are intended to do," Dr. Mike said. (iStock)

Jones emphasized that for a organization that has historically ignored soul wellness successful favour of "how they look from a ... superficial standpoint," these devices supply a basal gateway to health awareness.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The expert agreed that nan motivational facet is simply a triumph arsenic agelong arsenic nan expectations stay realistic. He suggests treating nan exertion pinch nan aforesaid position arsenic immoderate different portion of fitness gear.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"We tin dainty these devices for illustration we would a caller brace of moving shoes. You know, if that gets you excited to get an workout program, why not? Let's make usage of it."