Apple Watch Stress Tracking
by Matthew Nudelman
Month DD, YYYY
Thanks to a recent study, it has been found that the heart rate
sensor of the Apple Watch is capable of being used for tracking
stress. Currently, Apple does not have any native application
for stress monitoring on the Apple Watch, so this hardware
capability is not officially being taken advantage of at this
time. The Apple Watch already tracks a metric known as heart
rate variability (HRV), which measures the change in time
intervals between heartbeats. It is like measuring the
acceleration of the wearer's heart rate. The variance is very
small, so it is measured in milliseconds. Studies have shown
that the Apple Watch is just as reliable as heart rate monitors
specifically designed for accurate heart rate monitoring. A
higher HRV is generally healthier as it often means the body
adapts quickly to different conditions.
The Apple Watch has been found to be capable of accurately
measuring HRV, but it does not interpret the data for users to
understand what it indicates about their health. This metric is
valuable for stress tracking as lower HRV likely represents
greater stress. Precise monitoring is necessary to properly
interpret this information, and the study has shown that the
Apple Watch is capable of such precision.
Right now, the official Apple Health app on the iPhone of Apple
Watch users can provide data on the wearer's heart rate
variability, and can present the user with the trend over the
past 6 months or year. An upward trend can mean a reduction in
stress and a downward trend can mean an increase in stress.
There are also third-party apps such as
Training Today
and
Stress Monitor for Watch
which may be more clear when it comes to interpreting the
wearer's HRV by providing information for a better understanding
of what it means for their stress levels.
The Apple Watch being so capable as a heart rate monitor while
still being a consumer-friendly device designed for all-around
users could be very beneficial for its uses in the lives of many
people.