Apple Watch: Key features that can help improve your heart health

Due to the passive lifestyle among working professionals, who sit long hours in front of computers, there has been a steady surge in Heart diseases among people. They are silent killers as symptoms are very few and can strike anytime and potentially kill the person. They are the leading cause of death worldwide.

US and other countries globally, in a bid to raise awareness about cardiac health, celebrate February as a heart month.

Apple Watches comes with the most advanced heart health trackers and has saved several people globally with timely heart rate notifications.

Here are key heart health monitoring features you should know about Apple Watch:

Heart health notification

ECG app on Watch Series 4 (Picture Credit: Apple)

On the Apple Watch, users can enable notifications from the Heart Rate app. It will alert the owner to high or low heart rates and irregular heart rhythms.

If the heart rate remains above or below a chosen beats per minute, the Apple Watch will notify the owner. Also, the irregular rhythm notification feature on the Apple Watch will occasionally look at the heartbeat to check for an irregular rhythm that might be suggestive of atrial fibrillation and notify the owner, so he or she can take action.

If you're feeling symptoms, you can simply take an ECG on your Apple Watch.

Prerequisite: Make sure that your Apple Watch is snug and on the wrist that you selected in the Apple Watch app.

To check, open the Apple Watch app, tap the My Watch tab, then go to General > Watch Orientation.

How to use the ECG app:

Step 1: Open the ECG app on your Apple Watch.

Step 2: Rest your arms on a table or in your lap.

Step 3: With the hand opposite your watch, hold your finger on the Digital Crown. You don't need to press the Digital Crown during the session.

Step 4: Wait. The recording takes 30 seconds. At the end of the recording, you will receive a classification, then you can tap Add Symptoms and choose your symptoms.

Step 5: Tap Save to note any symptoms, then tap Done.

After the ECG reading, the user will receive any of the following results-- Sinus rhythm, Atrial fibrillation, Low or high heart rate or Inconclusive or Poor Recording. For the latter two, you should start again from the beginning and ensure the watch is tightly worn around the wrist to get the correct result.

Sleep Apnea feature on Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch Series 9, 10 and Ultra models also boasts of new Sleep Apnea Notification feature. Users will be notified if it sense any breathing disturbances or are showing consistent signs of sleep apnea, which can have important health consequences over time if left untreated, including cardiac disease. 

Here's how to turn on sleep apnea notification:

Step 1: On your iPhone, open the Health app.

Step 2: Tap Browse, then tap Respiratory.

Step 3: Under Sleep Apnoea Notifications, tap Set Up, then tap Next.

Step 4: Confirm your Date of Birth and if you’ve ever been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, then tap Continue.

Step 5: Tap Next, then tap Done.

Sleep pattern

Sleep Schedule feature of the Apple Watch.

To maintain good heart health, an adult should have at least seven to eight hours of night sleep. Apple Watch users can check their sleep patterns on the Sleep app (with bed icon) or the Health app on iPhone.

Apple Watch users are advised to set up a sleep schedule. And, wear the Apple Watch while going to sleep to get critical data on sleep patterns such as REM (Rapid Eye Movement), Awake, Core and Deep.

How to set up a sleep schedule on Apple Watch:

Step 1: Go to the Sleep app on your Apple Watch.

Step 2: Tap the Alarm icon.

Step 3: Turn the Digital Crown to scroll down to Full Schedule, then do one of the following:

Step 4: Change a sleep schedule: Tap the current schedule.

Step 5: Add a sleep schedule: Tap Add Schedule.

Step 6: Change your sleep goal: Tap Sleep Goal, then set the amount of time you want to sleep.

Step 7: Change Wind Down time: Tap Wind Down, then set the amount of time you want the Sleep Focus to be active before bedtime.

The Sleep Focus turns off the watch display and limits distractions before your scheduled bedtime.

Activity app

Apple Watch Activity Rings.

Besides sleep, people have to start walking more and do at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Doing physical work strengthens the heart muscle, lowers the blood pressure and controls the cholesterol level.

With the native Activity app on the Apple Watch, users can track how often they stand, how much they move, and how many minutes of exercise they do. Three rings in different colours summarise the progress. The goal is to sit less, move more, and get some exercise by completing each ring every day.

Mindfulness app

Mindfullness app for Apple Watch.

In a fast-paced life, people come under a lot of stress to meet deadlines at the office. Stress, anxiety, and depression significantly impact the overall heart health leading to an increase in blood pressure and eventually leading to several cardiac diseases, inflamation of heart muscles, and accumulation of plaque on artery walls. People with such conditions are at high risk of heart attack.

With the Mindfulness app, users can take a pause anytime and perform breathing exercises to calm themselves down and reduce their anxiety.

Here's how to make good use of the Mindfulness app on your Apple Watch:

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch, tap Mindfulness, then do any of the following:

A) Set mindfulness reminders: Below Reminders, turn Start of Day and End of Day on or off; tap Add Reminder to create additional reminders.

B) Get a weekly summary: Turn the Weekly Summary on.

C) Change your breathing rate: Tap Breath Rate to change the number of breaths per minute.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech