The reported death of Kannada actor Dileep Raj following a cardiac arrest has reignited concerns among doctors about the growing dependence on smartwatches and wearable health devices during medical emergencies. According to multiple media reports, the 47-year-old actor may have initially relied on smartwatch readings before seeking medical attention and being rushed to hospital.
The incident has once again highlighted a larger public health concern: can wearable devices create a false sense of reassurance when serious cardiac symptoms appear?
Smartwatches Are Wellness Tools, Not Diagnostic Devices
Smartwatches have rapidly become everyday health companions for millions of users, especially younger adults. Devices now track heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep quality, stress patterns, calories, and even ECG readings in real time.
However, cardiologists warn that consumer wearables are designed primarily for wellness monitoring and cannot accurately diagnose or rule out a heart attack.
Padma Shri awardee Dr Mohsin Wali said ECG readings generated through smartwatches remain limited because proper ECG interpretation requires multiple contact points placed across the body.
According to Dr Wali, features claiming to measure blood pressure or blood sugar through watches should also be viewed cautiously. He stressed that such devices may help monitor broad physiological trends or rhythm disturbances but cannot replace hospital-based testing.
Doctors say depending entirely on smartwatch readings may delay critical medical intervention during emergencies.
Why Immediate ECG Testing Matters
Explaining the importance of early diagnosis, Dr Krishan Yadav said heart rate alone is not a reliable indicator of a heart attack.
He noted that during a cardiac event, the heart rate may become either abnormally fast or unusually slow. Doctors instead diagnose heart attacks through a clinical ECG procedure using electrodes attached to the chest and limbs.
Cardiologists say the first hour after a heart attack is often the most critical because immediate treatment can help save heart muscle and significantly reduce complications.
While smartwatch ECG features may assist in tracking palpitations or irregular rhythms over time, doctors maintain they should only be used as supportive tools and not as definitive medical evidence.
India’s Growing Burden of Early Heart Disease
The debate also comes amid increasing concern around rising cases of sudden cardiac deaths among younger Indians.
A 2025 AIIMS autopsy-based study found cardiovascular disease accounted for 57.2% of sudden deaths among Indians aged between 18 and 45 years. Coronary artery disease emerged as one of the leading causes.
Experts say modern lifestyle factors such as stress, sedentary work routines, poor sleep cycles, obesity, untreated blood pressure, insulin resistance, smoking, and unhealthy eating habits are silently increasing cardiac risks even among people who appear physically healthy.
Warning Signs Smartwatches May Miss
Doctors stress that symptoms matter more than smartwatch readings. A person may still experience a heart attack even when the wearable device displays a normal pulse or oxygen level.
Warning signs include chest pressure, pain radiating to the jaw or left arm, sudden sweating, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, unexplained fatigue, and fainting sensations.
Dr Ravi Prakash said smartwatches can be useful for home monitoring, but not every cardiac issue appears on wearable devices. He warned that complete dependence on them can lead to dangerous delays in treatment.
Conclusion
Medical experts continue to encourage preventive cardiac screenings, especially for Indians above 40 or those with stress, metabolic disorders, family history, or unhealthy lifestyle habits. While wearable technology can improve health awareness, doctors emphasise that no smartwatch can replace professional medical evaluation during a suspected cardiac emergency.
Our Final Thoughts
The growing popularity of smartwatches has undoubtedly increased awareness around fitness and daily health monitoring. However, medical experts believe people must clearly understand the limitations of wearable technology. Devices that track pulse, oxygen levels, or ECG patterns may offer useful insights, but they are not substitutes for hospital-based cardiac evaluation. The reported cardiac arrest of Dileep Raj has once again underlined the importance of recognising symptoms early and seeking immediate medical care instead of relying solely on wearable readings.