I’m no longer surprised when I see stories from people who say the Apple Watch saved their lives. From fall detection to heart-rate monitoring, that little piece of technology can uncover issues that may go unnoticed with deadly consequences.
Of course, you need to make sure that your other gadgets are also ready to assist you in an emergency. Tap or click for built-in phone settings that make it easy to call 911, alert others about medical conditions, and more.
Alerts can also go a long way. Tap or click for notifications you can turn on to make life easier and keep you safe.
Now, grab your Apple Watch and let’s set up the essential health features.
First set up the Health app
Your Apple Watch works in conjunction with your iPhone, so you need to start there. The Health app allows you to enter details about your body, such as your height, weight and blood type. There are many other options you can choose to include or leave out.
check your heart rate
While your Apple Watch won’t give you an accurate reading of your heart rate, it can give you a close estimate. To check, open the Heart Rate app on your Apple Watch. You will see your current heart rate, resting rate and walking average rate.
As long as your watch is on, it takes regular readings of your heart rate and saves the data. If you want to see the previous heart rate, press the arrow in the top left corner of the app.
take an electrocardiogram
With an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, you can take an electrocardiogram, an ECG, or an EKG. This test records the timing and strength of your heartbeat. Doctors often use these tests to look for irregularities.
An important note: This feature is not a replacement for seeing your doctor. Always consult a doctor if you feel uncomfortable or notice changes in your heart rhythm or any other aspect of your health.
Now that fall detection is enabled, it will sound an alarm when you fall. If you do not respond, Apple will contact emergency services.
set medical id
Everyone has to do this step. You can create your Medical ID in the iPhone Health app and store it on your watch. Open the Health app and tap on the Medical ID option. You can add your past medical history, allergies, medications and any other details in case of an emergency.
blood oxygen sensor
If you have an Apple Watch Series 6, you can monitor your blood oxygen levels. The watch has a built-in oximeter that tells you whether your blood is carrying the right amount of oxygen. Again, if you are facing any breathing related problem then do not use it in place of doctor.
When tracking your blood oxygen level, you should see a number between 95 and 100. If you get readings less frequently than this, contact your doctor.
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