Keep a Watch on Your Health

The Apple Watch is a great tool for monitoring your health and keeping track of your workouts and with Series 5, it gains a wealth of new capabilities. Let’s take a look at what it can do.

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Last autumn, Apple released its Series 5 Apple Watch; the most innovative update since the watch’s launch in 2015. The display is now significantly larger than before, despite the casing only measuring 2mm bigger. It’s been pushed to the edges of the screen, cutting down on the boarder and giving an active surface that’s over 30% larger than before, but it’s the health benefits of the new Apple Watch we’re interested in here.

The Series 5 watch has gained a range of new heart rate features. The watch can automatically detect if your heart rate is too high or low and also if your heart’s rhythm is irregular, which could be a result of atrial fibrillation: a potentially serious condition. The watch sends you a notification and if you’ve not already been diagnosed with a heart condition, you’re advised to see your doctor, even if you haven’t noticed any symptoms.

You can check your heart rate any time you like, just open the Heart Rate app and the watch measures your pulse, giving your resting, workout, walking and recovery rates.

Technical advances made by the Apple Watch Series 5 allow for even more diagnostic features. Electrodes in the back of the watch and in the digital crown allow you to take an electrocardiogram, which is a test used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity. This is very useful for fitness enthusiasts, who can keep an eye on how their heart is performing during workouts as well as those with existing heart problems.