The Wearables Debate: Weighing Health Benefits and Digital Risk (Webinar). IMA experts explore the medical benefits, privacy concerns, and safety questions of wearable health technology. By Independent Medical Alliance. Host: Dr. Ryan Cole. Guests: Dr. Paul Marik, Dr. Kirk Milhoan, Dr. Mollie James: (07/17/25, video 1:02:38, includes transcript)

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A few questions to consider…

• Were RFK Jr’s initial statements about wearables controversial? Did he walk them back?

• Are you willing to share your wearable data with Big Brother?

• Are the benefits of wearables worth risks?

• Can wearables give you wrong answers, measure the wrong things, or lead to inappropriate treatments?

Find out by watching the webinar, reading the article, and/or skimming the summaries below.

Here are some closing thoughts from the docs — we like to start with dessert, after all…

💎 Whatever we do, whatever we add. I would like it to be added to our lives, make our lives better, make us better friends and family members and part of the society rather than making us more at war with people. — Dr. Kirk Milhoan

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💎 There's a lot of tools out there that you can use for your health. There's a lot of people going rogue and doing this on their own. Try to find somebody who is an expert that can guide you because self-directed health, you do have to take it into your own hands, but having a little expert guidance can save you a lot of time and money and effort. — Dr. Mollie James

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💎 Yeah, I agree with that. I think there is all of this technology, but it can be used wisely. And we try to get back to basics and not obsess about all of these devices and tools which monitor things which may be normal. — Dr. Paul Marik

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💎 And I would just finish with saying knowledge without wisdom is folly. And so we need to be wise with the tools that we have, use them sparingly, use them as tools and not as masters, and gain wisdom from the information. And then go on and live a full, healthy, abundant life with the information we have. — Dr. Ryan Cole

ED NOTE
We stopped all wearables years ago and are happier to be out from under their spell. Being constantly monitored by ourselves and likely others was not a good approach for us. We do not carry a smart phone and never will.

We predict that once wearables are in wide use, government and/or insurance companies will mandate them (or use carrot-and-stick approach) and most certainly will monitor them. We can only begin to imagine what they might mandate, but consider recent COVID countermeasures and vaccination papers, and you're on to our thinking.

If you're OK with outside monitoring and possible future tyranny, then by all means, use wearables. But once you connect ANYTHING to the Internet (including your smart phone/watch/ring and any medical records your healthcare providers keep about you), rest assured, they'll be watching. 

By the way, don't rely on HIPAA to keep your data private. HIPAA is not about privacy, it's about how others can share your medical data (see americaoutloud.news/the…)

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Article Summary (Grok ai, edited; images from article)

Wearable health technologies have evolved from simple step counters to advanced biosensors. Now they offer significant health benefits like real-time glucose and cardiac monitoring.

While devices like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and cardiac tools provide transformative health insights, concerns about data privacy, accuracy, psychological dependency, and EMF radiation persist.

The panel emphasized the need for professional guidance to balance these benefits against risks, highlighting wearables' role in health management while cautioning about surveillance and over-reliance.

Key Benefits of Wearables

• Glucose Monitoring: CGMs revolutionize diabetes and metabolic health management by providing real-time data, enabling dietary adjustments and revealing patterns affecting energy and sleep.

• Cardiac Monitoring: Wearables like the Kardia device detect heart rhythm irregularities, replacing bulky monitors and aiding post-COVID cardiac care.

• Health Insights: Offer precise, personalized data for better health decisions when used with clinical guidance.

Key Concerns

• Accuracy: False readings, like those caused by high-dose vitamin C (or bad sensors), can lead to incorrect treatments.

• Data Privacy: Concerns about government or insurance access to health data, despite private storage options.

• Psychological Impact: Risk of obsession with monitoring, leading to anxiety or sleep issues ("monitor zombies").

• EMF Radiation: Varying radiation levels from devices; long-term effects remain unclear.

Recommendations

• Use wearables as temporary diagnostic tools with professional oversight, not for permanent monitoring.

• Check device specifications for EMF radiation levels.

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Transcript Highlights (Grok ai, edited)

The webinar began with a viral clip from Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocating use of wearables for health empowerment. Panelists then explored how wearables, like continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and cardiac devices, help manage conditions such as diabetes and heart issues. However, the doctors also emphasized dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments for optimal health. They cautioned against over-reliance, psychological dependency, and data privacy risks, advocating selective use with clear goals.

The discussion underscores the balance between leveraging technology for health insights and maintaining individual freedom, while addressing concerns about electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and insurance company misuse of data.

Wearable Devices Overview

• Wearables include rings, watches, Fitbits, Dexcoms, and smartphones used to monitor health metrics such as glucose, heart rate, and sleep.

• Secretary Kennedy supports wearables to empower health management, clarifying he opposes mandates and prioritizes data privacy. He also says wearables are cheaper (at ~$80/month) than Ozempic drugs (at ~$1300/month with long-term side effects)

ED NOTE
We are suspicious of government funded wearables, which RFK Jr. advocates. If government pays for it, government controls it. The same holds true for wearables provided by insurance companies.

Just sayin…

Glucose Monitoring (Dr. Marik):

• Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) help manage type 2 diabetes by tracking glucose levels, enabling dietary adjustments.

• Dr. Marik reversed his diabetes through diet, achieving a flat glucose profile. He now uses CGMs intermittently.

• Useful for type 1 and type 2 diabetics, and those with insulin resistance (20-30% of U.S. population).

• Cardiac Monitoring (Dr. Milhoan):

  • Wearables like Holter monitors (tinyurl.com/237fy874) and Kardia devices (tinyurl.com/y45sd4dt) detect heart rate variability and rhythms, aiding diagnosis of post-COVID/vaccine complications.

  • Wearables empower patients to capture rare symptoms, reducing invasive hospital monitoring.

• Integrative Care (Dr. James):

  • CGMs reveal metabolic issues beyond diabetes, like cortisol spikes or thyroid problems, improving energy and sleep.

  • Helps tailor lifestyle changes, but requires lab panels for accuracy in obese patients with high insulin.

Concerns and Risks

• Psychological Dependency:

  • Over-fixation on data can increase anxiety or disrupt sleep, especially for non-medically trained users.

  • Some personalities may obsess over normal fluctuations, leading to stress.

• Data Privacy:

  • Concerns about who accesses data (government, insurers, companies) and potential misuse, e.g., denying insurance policies.

  • Dr. Marik keeps data private on his iPhone; others worry about corporate data sharing.

ED NOTE
Dr. Marik, is your data really private on an iPhone? We wonder 🤔.

• Accuracy and Artifacts:

  • False readings possible (e.g., vitamin C mimics glucose, cold hands affect oximeters, sensors can be faulty).

  • Users need education on device limitations to avoid misinterpretation.

ED NOTE
A friend’s CGM had a bad sensor causing the smartphone alarm to go off constantly, increasing anxiety, and temporarily leading to disabling the monitor with tin foil while awaiting a replacement sensor.

• EMF Exposure:

  • Wearables emit electromagnetic fields; phones emit more than rings, but long-term exposure is a personal risk-benefit choice.

Recommendations for Use

• Use selectively for specific health goals (e.g., diabetes management, cardiac monitoring).

• Set clear endpoints. Stop or pause once goals are met to avoid dependency.

• Pair with expert guidance to interpret data and avoid pitfalls.

• Balance technology with lifestyle changes like eating whole foods, exercising, and community connection.

Broader Health Insights

• Diet and Lifestyle:

  • Processed food addiction drives insulin resistance, diabetes, and chronic diseases (80% of Americans affected).

  • Whole foods and dietary changes can reverse conditions, reducing reliance on drugs like Ozempic.

• Holistic Health:

  • Health involves biopsychosocial factors; chronic stress and poor sleep impact cortisol and glucose.

  • Community, nature, and simple pleasures (e.g., picking fresh fruit off a tree) enhance well-being beyond quantifiable metrics. [ED An especially appreciated comment from Dr. Cole, echoed by Dr. Milhoan.]

Audience Questions and Closing

• EMF Concerns: Devices emit varying energy levels; users should read disclosures and weigh risks.

• Thyroid Diagnosis Example: CGMs identified glucose drops linked to thyroid issues in a non-diabetic patient.

• Non-Invasive Glucose Monitors: Current CGMs require needle sensors; non-invasive options lack scientific validation.

• Final Thoughts: Use wearables as tools, not masters, to enhance life without paranoia or judgment. Seek expert guidance for self-directed health.

🤔Insightful Reader Comment from Renee Morris: tinyurl.com/34rtjtsz