Based in Omaha, Neb., Amy Adkins has been a professional writer and editor since 2001. She writes primarily on the syllabu of health and health care and has experience in marketing communications, public relations, corporate communication and technical writing. She received her Master of Arts degree in communication from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
- Apple has offered a breakdown of five of the Apple Watch’s heart health features.
- The device includes functions said to monitor cardio fitness, high and low heart rate, Atrial fibrillation, and more.
- Experts say these functions can help you convey useful cardiovascular data to your heart doctor
- However, they express concern about the accuracy of devices like the Apple Watch
Eating well, moving more, and reducing stress. When it comes to managing your health, some advice has been around for decades. But as technology develops, so too does the way we monitor our health.
In latest years, a slew of tech devices have helped clue us in on the metrics, allowing you to measure everything from your step count to the quality of your sleep. Now, global tech company Apple has shared how the Apple Watch may enable you to keep your heart health in check.
The company has listed five heart health features of the device on its website, claiming that it can Strengthen your peak oxygen rate, monitor irregular heartbeats, identify an abnormally low resting heart rate, and more.
So, how do these features work, how important are they for a healthy heart, and crucially, what do experts make of them?
Apple says the Cardio Fitness feature gives you a “scientifically validated” estimate of VO2 Max, your body’s ability to intake oxygen during exercise. Users can choose to receive notifications when their classification drops to “low.”
Low V02 Max is associated with long-term health concerns such as cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Apple says you can combat low V02 Max by exercising more rigorously and more frequently; a habit you can easily track using the cardio fitness feature.
Public health-trained personal trainer and head coach at Wildstrong, Andrew Telfer, says VO2 Max has long been used as a proxy for overall health, noting that high VO2 max is associated with longer life spans.
“Measuring V02 Max is probably most useful in competitive athletic training as there are many training methodologies that use percentages of estimated VO2 to adjust intensity,” he explains. “Measuring your heart rate against estimated maximum heart rate can be useful for people who want to train for marathons or triathlons etc.”
However, Telfer says there’s a risk of focusing on this singular metric while ignoring equally important proxies for health and longevity.
He says, as well as V02 Max, you should pay attention to other health indicators, like strength and mobility as well.
Most of us have experienced the feeling of a racing heart after we’ve physically exerted ourselves, but do you really know how fast your heart beats when you’re at rest, and what that number means for your health?
The Apple Watch checks for heart rates that are unusually high or low when you are inactive, which the company says can help you identify “situations that may warrant further evaluation.”
If your heart is above 120 bpm or below 40 bpm for more than 10 minutes while you’re at rest, you’ll receive a notification.
Mario Ignacio Pascual, a cardiologist at Baptist Health, says tracking your heart rate can be a beneficial measure of overall heart health. However, he says it’s important to remember that an abnormally high or low heart rate isn’t always a cause for concern.
“There are many situations where having an abnormal pulse detected by an Apple watch either above or below this range is not accurate and not a serious health concern,” he explains.
“Apple watches are also known to have false positive alerts due to artifact or other benign arrhythmias,” he adds.
Still, the high and low heart rate function can provide you a better idea of a healthy heart rate range, making you more aware of any abnormalities.
Similar to the high and low heart rate function, you can also receive a notification if you’re experiencing irregular heart rhythms, a symptom of atrial fibrillation (Afib), a condition where the upper chambers of the heart beat out of sync with the lower chambers.
Not everyone with Afib will experience symptoms, and when left untreated, it can result in heart failure or blood clots that can lead to stroke. For those without symptoms, a monitoring device like the Apple Watch may be a vital first step in identifying it.
“Irregular heart notifications on the Apple Watch can be used as a screening tool for serious arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation,” says Pascual. “However, when it comes to diagnosing heart arrhythmias, a rhythm strip or ECG (an electrical map of the heart) remains the gold standard.”
Pascual says if you receive an irregular heart rhythm notification, further testing will be required to confirm or refute the alert. Again, he says that irregular rhythm notifications have been associated with false positives and can lead to significant patient anxiety.
An ECG is a device that measures the electrical activity of the heart to detect cardiac problems. You’ll usually come across them in medical settings.
However, Apple has included an ECG app with its watch that claims to capture and record irregular heart symptoms such as rapid or skipped heartbeat using an electrical heart sensor. Users then have the option to present these findings to their clinician in PDF format.
In Pascual’s opinion, the ECG app is the most exciting feature of the Apple Watch.
“Many times, patient symptoms can be quite sporadic or rare. The diagnosis of these symptoms requires a correlation between a patient’s symptoms and a rhythm strip or ECG,” he explains.
“The Apple watch has provided the consumer with the ability to quickly obtain a rhythm strip to provide their healthcare provider with this correlation.”
Afib History is a function of the Apple Watch that allows you to estimate the amount of time your heart shows signs of Atrial Fibrillation.
In addition, this feature lets you track lifestyle factors that can affect the amount of time spent in Afib such as sleep and exercise.
“Afib burden, or the amount of time being in and out of Afib, is becoming a very important clinical tool used to determine clinical outcomes,” says Pascual.
“Afib is not traditionally thought of as a curable issue but one which we can control very well, and so being able to measure AFIB burden will allow patients and their doctors the ability to quantify the overall success of different treatment strategies,” he explains.
Pascual believes managing Afib via the Apple Watch may encourage patients to address risk factors that can contribute to the condition too. “By tracking sleep, exercise pattern, and weight we hope to empower patients to take control of their Afib and truly diminish their burden,” he says.
That said, Pascual notes that these features are only available with continuous use of the Apple Watch.
While tech like the Apple Watch might make you more mindful of your heart health, Telfer says you should remember that they aren’t clinical devices.
“Many professional heart and health organizations have recommended against using Apple Watches and other similar devices due to the high incidence of false positives,” he points out.
“If you are experiencing any number of dangerous irregularities and the watch detects it, then it’s a net good. But we should be mindful that Apple may insinuate that the device is more accurate than it actually is.”
Bottom line, when it comes to heart health, the Apple Watch can’t replace the expertise of a physician, but it may make you more aware of your cardiovascular health and encourage you to adopt heart-healthy habits. It also provides data that you can present to a cardiologist.
New UnitedHealthcare rewards program
A new rewards program from UnitedHealthcare lets people earn money by completing various health goals using an Apple Watch or other wearable — with a giant catch.
UnitedHealthcare Rewards offers up to $1,000 per for eligible members, including spouses, by completing various daily health goals and one-time activities. Members can also use a smartphone capable of tracking health, such as an iPhone and Apple's Health app.
UnitedHealthcare Rewards is now available to select employers with fully insured plans at the start of their new plan year. Later in 2023, more businesses with fully insured plans will have access, with the intention of allowing self-funded clients to buy UnitedHealthcare Rewards by the end of 2024.
The caveat is that UnitedHealthcare will need access members' Health data, such as sleep and exercise activity, that they might not have had before. As an insurance company, UnitedHealthcare could use the data in various ways, such as using it to make healthcare decisions.
© Provided by The Indian Express
The pandemic made everyone take their health seriously. As such, more people adopted a fitness-oriented lifestyle and made use of tech-based innovations to enhance their fitness journeys. In keeping with the same, Apple too has always prioritised health by introducing "a wide array of innovative features to help our users take care of their health every day, across fitness, heart health, mobility, sleep, menstrual health, safety and more". The multinational technology company also came up with a detailed report on how iPhone and Apple Watch have helped many through their "actionable, science-based insights". Talking about all this and more will be Dr Sumbul Desai, VP of Health at Apple, in a fireside chat with Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals at BioAsia (Hyderabad) on Saturday, Feb 25 at 10:30am.
Apple, which recently released iOS 16 and watch OS 9, uses advanced sensor-based technology, iPhone and its flagship watch cover 17 areas of health and fitness, from heart health and sleep to mobility and women’s health. The advances in tracking, storing, analysing, and visualising health data allow patients to gain insights into their health between doctors’ visits and to be alerted when they should discuss something with their doctor. "Apple’s work to advance health is grounded in the belief that all innovation in health should be grounded in science. Today, Apple’s advanced features and technologies are empowering researchers around the world to collect data more frequently and at a broader scale than ever before, so they can continue to move science forward.
In the July 2022-report titled 'Empowering people to live a healthier day', Jeff Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Apple, noted that "Our vision for the future is to continue to create science-based technology that equips people with even more information and acts as an intelligent guardian for their health, so they’re no longer passengers on their own health journey. Instead, we want people to be firmly in the driver’s seat with meaningful, actionable insights.
BioAsia is an annual international event focused on Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Pharma, Medtech and Healthtech sectors and has been hosted in Hyderabad by Government of Telangana. BioAsia 2023, the 20th edition of Telangana’s annual flagship event is scheduled for Feb 24-26, 2023 at HICC Novotel, Hyderabad.
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New laws mean any App Stores that include health or medical apps must be more rigorous gatekeepers — and perhaps should not distribute its own apps.
Apple has already rejected health apps, at times facing lawsuits because of it, but researchers published in "Nature" magazine journal say it — and Google — ought to be doing much more.
"As a result of changes to EU law which came into effect in May 2021," write the researchers in their paper, "they must now ensure that apps are compliant with medical devices regulation and to inform authorities of serious incidents arising from their use."
Despite these law changes being enacted 20 months ago, the research say that the "extent to which these new rules are being complied with in practice is uneven, and in some areas unclear."
Part of the problem is that the definition of what is a medical or health app is not always clear either. Then if an app developer is not based in an EU country, Apple and Google are legally regarded as the importers of that app, and so must fulfill certain obligations.
Those obligations, however, raise more issues, this time in relation to EU competition legislation from November 2022.
The researchers note that of five EU requirements that apply only to health apps, Apple complies with all five, while Google complies with just one.
"Most, but not all the requirements on distributors and importers are already met by Apple," say the researchers, "but as of yet, Google meets only a small subset of these requirements."
Beyond accurately and safely controlling what health and wellness apps are in their App Stores, "Nature" says that Apple and Google are "increasingly developing their own medical device apps."
It creates dilemmas for Google and Apple, say the researchers.
"Independent app developers are likely to perceive bias when their apps are refused access," they continue. "This perception of bias is particularly marked where Apple or Google already have a competitive app in the store, or if they are perceived to be developing or partnering in the development of similar apps."
"As the activities, investing, and partnering of Google and Apple in health are so broad," say the researchers, "conflicts of interest could be perceived in almost any medical application area or app intended purpose."
The journal notes that Apple is being forced to consider allowing third-party app stores, and suggests that this could be a solution. One suggestion is a dedicated third-party health app store.
"In the health app sector, specialized and regulated digital app 'pharmacies' could be developed that run as independent organizations providing curation, oversight, triage, documentation, and complaint handling for apps," propose the researchers. "Such organizations could be run as for-profit entities (as are brick and mortar pharmacies in the real world), non-profits funded by grants, or national governments."
"Unlike the existing app stores, digital app pharmacies would have no fundamental conflicts of interest with developers," continues the paper.
The "Nature" researchers recognize that this idea is just one possibility, and that there remains the chance that Apple and Google will continue much as they are.
"[But medical] devices and wellness apps are already important to consumers, to patients and to health systems," they say. "To enable this sector to further develop safely, these 'wild west' aspects of the market must be resolved."
Ashley Donohoe has written business, technology and education articles professionally since 2010. Having a background in business and technology, she has completed undergraduate studies in business and computer science along with a Master of Business Administration.
By Caroline Luiza C. Castro, Alli Shircliff of Microsoft Start Health | 
- Apple helps gut function. It's an important source of fiber, which provide healthy gut microbiome once bacteria metabolizes it.
- Apple is effective in reducing sweet appetite, because of the amount of fiber and improving satiety
- Apple is an important source of polyphenol, which helps to reduce damages in some cells, such as beta cells, preventing diabetes, for example.
→ Apple: How much should you eat? Experts weigh in.
→ Love Apple? Get nutritional facts, tips from health experts, and more
Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.
When it comes to fitness tracking and health monitoring wearables, there have never been more options on the market to choose from. The O.G. FitBit and Apple Watch have been the gold standard for several years now, but in latest years, a sleeker alternative has emerged: the Oura Ring. To my knowledge, The Oura Ring is the first and only health tracker that isn’t worn on the wrist, which is majorly appealing to someone like me who detests the bulky look and feel of traditional wrist wearables.
I finally gave into investing in the ubiquitous Apple Watch Series 7 after my husband had told me about a news story in which a woman who was wearing the latest model of the Apple Watch got a notification of irregular heart rate, which lead her to seek medical treatment for what turned out to be a stroke. As a recovering hypochondriac (kidding... kind of), I figured that I could put aesthetics aside for a watch that could potentially save lives.
I’m lucky enough to own both the Apple Watch Series 7 and the Oura Ring Gen 3, so I figured I would go ahead and make a side-by-side comparison of the two health wearables to see which one I preferred based on several factors. To address the pink elephant in the room, it goes without saying that the Apple Watch is much more than just a health tracker, so it’s able to do a lot of other things that the Oura Ring cannot (take calls, sound alarms, etc.), so for the purpose of this review, I’ll just be looking at the health components of each device. First, let’s take a peak at the basics of each wearable.
The Oura Ring:
Price: $299 (Horizon); $349 (Heritage); Gold ($499); Rose Gold ($549).
Health functionalities: sleep tracking, heart rate tracking, 24/7 body temperature, period prediction, calorie tracking, blood oxygen, and steps and activity monitoring.
Sensors: optical heart rate, body temperature, accelerometers.
Battery life: 4-8 days.
Mia Maguire.
Pros:
- Long battery life,
- Attractive look,
- Lightweight feel
- It can be worn in the shower or when washing your hands,
- Accurate sleep data,
- Records heart rate data while sleeping
- It can be used with both Apple and Android phones
- It comes with a free sizing kit to ensure the utmost accuracy
- It’s water-resistant up to about 330 feet (you don’t need to take it off to shower or wash your hands).
Cons:
- It doesn’t have a timer or screen interface directly on the device.
- It costs $6 a month for a membership to access all health data.
Apple Watch (Series 7):
Price: $150-$800 (I paid $300 for my Apple Watch Series 7 on sale).
Health functionalities: sleep tracking, heart rate tracking, activity tracking, calorie counter, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep counter, ECG.
Sensors: optical heart rate, sleep tracking, accelerometers, gyroscope, and altimeter.
Battery life: Up to 18 hours (but more like 14-16, in my experience).
Mia Maguire.
Pros:
- It has its own screen, so even if you have a cracked iPhone or an old model, you can still reap the benefits.
- It senses when you’re doing a workout (not sure how) or on a walk and can tell whether it’s indoor or outdoor (again, not sure how).
- No membership fees are required.
- Water-resistant up to 50m.
Cons:
- Bulkier design and feel.
- Short battery life. Realistically, it needs to be charged daily like an iPhone.
- Because it needs to be charged more often, I find myself forgetting to put it on in the morning, which skews the data.
What the Experts Say:
While I definitely have my own opinions based on my experience, health experts seem to have a more neutral stance weighing the benefits of each device. “Based on the studies that have been conducted evaluating the accuracy of these two devices, I think what’s clear is that there are certain statistics that both devices do an excellent job of measuring and others where there’s room for improvement. Heart rate and oxygen levels, for example, are something that the Apple Watch and Oura Ring are both good at tracking, while calories burned (also called energy expenditure) is something neither device estimates particularly well,” says Dr. Valerie Ulene, MD and Co-Founder of Boom Home Medical.
On the other hand, some believe that the Oura Ring may yield more accurate heart rate results because it fits closer to the finger and because doctors measure your heart rate using your finger. “The ring’s form factor was chosen because the finger provides a stronger heart rate signal than any other place on the body. The ring takes bio measurements directly from the arteries in the finger whereas smartwatches (or wrist wearables) sit on the top of the wrist, farther away from the arteries that are on the bottom of the wrist,” Karina Kogan, Chief Marketing Officer at Oura says.
“The one area of health and wellness where the Oura Ring appears to have a proven advantage over the Apple Watch right now is sleep. An Australian study published last year showed that, while both devices are relatively good at assessing the total amount of time someone spends asleep, the Oura ring is better able to differentiate the amount of time spent in different sleep stages, such as deep sleep and REM sleep,” says Dr. Ulene.
Overall Thoughts:
Overall, the slim and sleek design of the Oura Ring makes it the winner for me. However, as I’ve explored my Apple Watch more (and have gotten into the annoying habit of having to charge it every night alongside my phone), I realize that its offerings go way above and beyond Oura Rings’. And while it’s not a huge fortune, paying $6 a month to access “premium” health data feels... unnecessary. If I had to choose between the two for myself, I would go with Oura Ring. However, if you’re looking for a health-tracking device that is on the pulse (quite literally) of technology, you might want to opt for the Apple Watch—just be prepared for your device to die or become obsolete in two years; it’s the Apple way, after all.
When it comes down to it, both are awesome devices that offer pretty accurate data and are easy to use. The bottom line really comes down to preference. As Dr. Ulene puts it, “Ultimately, the ‘better’ wearable device is the one that will be worn more regularly. For some people, that will be a ring. For others, a watch.” For me, that’s going to be the Oura Ring.
Don’t forget to check out our coupon site to find more health and fitness deals, including Vitacost coupons, Dick’s Sporting Goods coupons, Walmart coupons, and Macy’s coupons.
To have a beautiful smile, you must have healthy teeth and to have that you must take good care of your oral hygiene. We all know it is important to brush our teeth twice a day and rinse our mouths after meals to take care of our teeth. But have you ever wondered if certain food products or beverages may be deteriorating your teeth and oral health?
Apple cider vinegar is beneficial for your health in many ways. It contains vitamin C, antioxidants, phytochemicals, potassium, magnesium, and calcium and has multiple benefits like weight loss, lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels, boosting skin health, etc. But it may damage your teeth if it is consumed frequently. It is conventionally used as a home remedy to relieve sunburn and acne. However, there are certain side effects of drinking apple cider vinegar on your teeth due to its high acidic content-average pH between 2.5 and 3.0. Read on to find out what our expert, Dr Maahesh Kambley, BDS, PGDCRM, has to say about the effects of apple cider vinegar on your teeth and the steps you can take to lessen or avoid the damage.
Side Effects Of Apple Cider Vinegar On Teeth
Here are some of the side effects that apple cider vinegar has on your teeth
Tooth Decay
Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic, and consuming too much acidic content can weaken your tooth enamel. There are no cells in enamel, so if it is destroyed once, your body cannot produce more to replace it, resulting in long-term damage. This will eventually lead to tooth decay and may lead to developing cavities. You should ensure that you dilute apple cider vinegar before consuming it.
Tooth Erosion
Apple cider vinegar can weaken your tooth enamel and lead to the erosion of the outer layer of your teeth. Dental erosion is more likely to occur when there is more exposure. This can lead to other tooth problems, such as tooth loss, and increases the risk of tooth cavities.
Tooth Sensitivity
Another side effect of consuming apple cider vinegar is that it can lead to tooth sensitivity due to the weakening of the tooth enamel.
Swelling
Individuals with a particularly heavy consumption of undiluted apple cider vinegar may also experience swelling or burns inside their oral cavity.
Also Read: Why Is Ice Cream Helpful Post Tooth Extraction, Expert Explains
Tips To Consume Apple Cider Vinegar For Teeth Health
You can reduce the risk of apple cider vinegar on your teeth by following some of these measures.
- You can drink it with the help of a straw to reduce the impact it has on your teeth.
- You should dilute the apple cider vinegar with warm water to reduce its acidic levels to reduce tooth damage. Avoid using it as a mouthwash or drinking it directly from the bottle.
- Avoid brushing your teeth right after consuming apple cider vinegar, as it can damage your tooth enamel. Instead, rinse your mouth after drinking it.
- You can choose to take apple cider vinegar in the form of pills to prevent tooth damage.
- Always practice oral health hygiene to prevent tooth problems and reduce the risk of mouth infections.
Pros Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Oral Health
Apple cider vinegar can also result in some benefits for your oral health if used effectively. Some of them are as follows:
Teeth Whitening
Apple cider vinegar can help whiten your teeth as it has an antimicrobial effect that prevents teeth discolouration and staining. Some of the ways of teeth whitening are teeth whitening strips, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.
Treats Bad Breath
Bad breath can make you under-confident and make the other person displeased. Apple cider vinegar can help to treat bad breath by balancing the pH levels in your mouth.
Reduces Toothache
It can help reduce toothache as it can aid in killing bacteria and infections in your mouth.
Takeaway
If you are considering apple cider vinegar for dental use, consult your dentist or doctor before trying it. Studies have shown that it causes one to 20% loss of dental minerals. Therefore, use it wisely to prevent the damage it may cause to your teeth.
