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Monitoring your heart health is an important proactive measure. Heart disease can occur at any stage of life, so it’s crucial to stay aware of your heart’s activities. Named the “ultimate device for a healthy life”, the new Apple Watch Series 8 takes health monitoring to a new level. 

As well as aiding with mindfulness and sleep tracking, the Apple Watch Series 8 comes with a specialized heart rate monitor – making it the first-of-its-kind technology to safeguard against SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest). 

The Apple Series 8 quickly senses your heart rate levels, automatically calculates intensity levels, and personalizes monitoring according to your health data. Apple watches provide useful health data that you can access directly from your wrist. 

6 Tips for using the Apple Watch Series 8 for better heart health

The Apple Watch Series 8 is equipped with a variety of sensors that allow it to monitor your heart rate with accuracy.  Here’s how you can make the most out of your Apple Watch.

Tip #1: Keep track of your heart rate

• Switch on heart rate monitoring on your Apple Watch to get constant data on your heart rate.
• The watch uses a combination of photoplethysmography (PPG) and infrared light to measure your heart rate. 
• The PPG sensors are located on the back of the watch which shine through the skin and measure blood flow. This allows the watch to track your heart rate. 
• Monitoring your heart rate is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy heart and your overall well-being. The watch allows you to view this data anytime either by opening the Heart Rate app on the watch or by checking the heart rate complication on the watch dial. 
• The data is presented in a clear, readable format and can be viewed in the form of a graph or a list of measurements. 
• Through Apple Watch's heart monitor app, it is easy for you to keep an eye on the variations in your heart rate. These insights are valuable especially if you are starting a new workout routine or making changes in your diet.

Tip #2: Monitor your blood oxygen levels

• The Apple Watch Blood Oxygen app is available on Series 6 and later versions.
• Find it by clicking on Health > Browse > Respirator y> Blood Oxygen.
• You might need to turn on Blood Oxygen Measurement in the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
• The infrared light sensor on your watch is used to measure oxygen saturation levels and provides valuable insights into your heart health. 
• Taking the measurement requires you to rest your wrist flat for 15 seconds with the watch facing up. You can also choose to switch off blood oxygen measurement at any time – many users find the red light distracting at night. 

Tip #3: Switch on ECG to get notified of heart irregularities

• The ECG feature on the Apple Watch Series 8 is a game-changer for those who want to keep a close eye on their heart health. It’s an easy, non-invasive way to detect potential issues and is a valuable tool for both you and your doctors.
• To take an ECG, open the ECG app on the watch and place your finger on the Digital Crown for 30 seconds. The app will analyze the electrical impulses of the heart and provide a report in a heartbeat’s time. The entire process takes less than a minute and can be done on the go.
• The ECG feature can detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of irregular heart rhythm that can increase the risk of a stroke.
• With the ECG feature, you can easily check for AFib and share these insights with your doctor – helping you be prepared before your condition is fatal.

Tip #4: Enable fall detection alerts

• The Apple Watch's Fall Detection feature uses advanced sensors to detect when a user has taken a hard fall. 
• Alerts are immediately sent to the user’s emergency contacts. If their contacts do not respond to the alert, the watch will automatically call emergency services to their location.
• This feature is designed to be highly sensitive and can detect even the most subtle falls. It uses a combination of data from the watch’s accelerometer and gyroscope to determine when the user has fallen. 
• The watch can accurately detect falls the user may not be aware of like in the middle of sleep or while unconscious and alert their close ones and caregivers.
• Great feature for senior citizens and patients who are prone to strokes.
• You might want to switch Fall Detection off during workouts (for example, so your loved ones don’t get multiple notifications during your Taekwondo session).

Tip #5: Monitor your respiratory rate along with your heart

• The Apple Watch heart rate monitor also offers notifications for respiratory rate, which is a measure of the number of breaths taken per minute. 
• High or low respiratory rate can indicate underlying health issues, such as sleep apnea, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Notifications can alert you and encourage you to share the results with your doctor. Respiratory irregularities can sometimes indicate cardiovascular comorbidities.

Tip# 6: Integrate your Apple Watch with your iPhone Fitness apps

• If you use a wide range of fitness apps and are looking for easier accessibility during your workout, you can easily integrate them into your Apple Watch Heart Monitor. 
• One popular way to integrate the Apple Watch Series 8 with fitness apps is through the built-in Activity app. This app tracks your daily activity, including steps taken, calories burned, and minutes of exercise. 
• You can also use the default Health app integration on iOS for more detailed medical record-keeping.
• The Apple watch can also be integrated through third-party apps such as Strava, MyFitnessPal, or Runkeeper. These apps allow you to track specific types of activity, such as running, cycling, or swimming, and can provide more detailed data and insights than the built-in Activity app. 
• Additionally, you can share their data with friends and compete with each other in challenges, which motivates you and your friends to be healthy together.

How accurate is the Apple Watch heart rate monitor?

Cardiac health concerns are not to be taken lightly – especially since data errors could prove fatal. Thankfully, the latest Apple Watch with a heart monitor is widely considered to have one of the most accurate results among smartwatches. According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the Apple Watch measures the heart rates of patients with cardiovascular disease with clinically acceptable accuracy during exercise.

Does the Apple Watch SE have heart rate monitoring features? 

Even if you’re not ready to buy the latest Apple Watch Series 8, you can get similar heart monitoring features in the earlier SE generation. 

The Apple Watch SE is also integrated with heart rate monitoring features that allows you to keep track of your heart rate. If you want to buy an accurate and affordable heart rate monitoring smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE is a great option.

The smart way through the series 8

The Apple Watch Series 8 offers a wide range of features for monitoring heart health, including ECG capability, fall detection, heart rate, respiratory rate, fitness tracking notifications, and the ability to integrate with fitness apps.  

These features are designed to provide you with a detailed view of your heart health and allow you to detect any potential issues early on.

If you are looking to purchase The Apple Watch Series 8 to start a better lifestyle, Rossellimac is a verified Apple seller with the Apple Watch Series 8. The new features of this series enable you to keep track of your heart health with a simple smartwatch.