When used right, using data trackers and the internet to track your health can complement “conventional healthcare”. 

That’s according to Dr Nina Byrnes on this week’s Ask the GP on Lunchtime Live. 

Host Jess Kelly said she’s a “big fan of Dr Google”, often using data she collects on her Apple Watch to share with her GP. 

Dr Byrnes said she doesn’t give out to people who use “Dr Google”, even if other doctors are adamantly against it. 

“As healthcare workers, we have to be aware that the internet is out there, that these trackers are out there that these devices are out there,” she said. 

“I personally am a big fan of digital health and the implication that it can have on a person’s healthcare. 

“It’s sort of a form of complementary health – it's a way of complementing your healthcare, but it should be done in conjunction with talking to someone who's obviously trained in analysing that data. 

“Data is key, but data on its own is no good unless we know how to interpret it properly.” 

Health data

Dr Byrnes said people should be comfortable tracking their health data and sharing it with their GP, and GPs should welcome that data. 

“I like when my patients come in and show me their data,” she said. “I don't like the idea that someone would come into me and talk about their health and then they're doing all this other stuff at home and not discussing it. 

“That’s not getting the full benefit of a health consultation.” 

Low heart rate

One listener told Dr Byrnes their heart rate drops to 40 to 45 beats per minute when they sleep and they’re not sure that’s normal. 

The GP said your heart rate when you sleep can be determined by many things. 

“Your fitness and other circumstances such as whether you're on medications can affect heart rate,” she said. 

“To generalise, it is normal your heart rate dips overnight... dropping down to the 40s may be perfectly normal for you if you're a very fit person whose daytime heart rate is in the low 60s or high 50s. 

“Sometimes if someone's very worried that their heart rate is dropping, we’d run a 24-hour monitor or a Holter monitor, just to make sure that the heart rate isn't dropping off.” 

Your heartbeat pausing completely for moments while you sleep is a cause for concern. 

“It might not be normal, and I suppose it is absolutely something worth discussing with your doctor,” Dr Byrnes said. 

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