Apple is encouraging you to wear your Apple Watch to bed. This may seem unusual, but it’s crucial for using the new Vitals app in WatchOS 11. According to Apple’s VP of Health, Dr. Sumbul Desai, sleeping with the watch is key to unlocking its full potential.
Why Apple Wants You to Wear Your Watch to Bed
Apple believes that wearing the Apple Watch while sleeping provides valuable health data. Dr. Desai emphasizes that the watch captures important metrics when your body is at rest. This data helps create a more accurate health profile.
“Your health data works best when you sleep with the watch,” Desai says. The watch collects information free from daily activities that can skew results. This overnight data gives a clearer picture of your baseline health.
The Science Behind Sleep and Health Metrics
The Apple Watch tracks several health metrics during sleep. These include heart rate, skin temperature, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen levels. Tracking these metrics at rest provides more accurate data.
Comparing this to other devices, smart rings like the Oura Ring offer similar insights. They measure readiness scores based on health data. Fitbit also has features for sleep tracking. However, Vitals will show how you compare to your personal baselines rather than assigning a score.
How Vitals Works
Vitals gives you a daily snapshot of your health. It focuses on metrics collected while you sleep. If the app detects deviations from your usual health metrics, it sends alerts. These alerts provide context on what might be affecting your health.
An Apple Notification a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?
If Vitals detects two or more deviations in your health data, it will notify you. For example, drinking alcohol or taking certain medications can affect your metrics. Vitals provides context for these changes and helps you understand what might be causing them.
Apple is careful not to alarm users unnecessarily. The alerts are based on research and clinical data. This ensures they are meaningful and actionable.
Apple’s Health Research Studies
Apple has been studying cardiovascular health for years. The company also focuses on hearing and reproductive health. These studies help improve the accuracy of the data provided by the Apple Watch.
Personalized Health Insights
Vitals aims to give you personalized health insights. It puts your health data into a broader context. This approach helps you understand your health better.
The Future of Health with Apple Watch
Apple plans to continue enhancing health features. The Vitals app is a significant step in this direction. Wearing the Apple Watch to bed will help you make the most of these advancements.
User Experience and Feedback
Early users of Vitals have shared positive feedback. They appreciate the detailed health insights. Some found it took a bit of adjustment to sleep with the watch, but the benefits were worth it.
FAQ
What is the Vitals app on Apple Watch?
Ans: Vitals provides a daily overview of health metrics collected by the Apple Watch.
How does Vitals differ from other health tracking apps?
Ans: Vitals focuses on comparing your metrics to your personal baselines, rather than assigning a specific score.
Can I use Vitals without wearing my Apple Watch to bed?
Ans: For accurate data, it is recommended to wear the watch to bed.
How does Apple ensure the accuracy of health data in Vitals?
Ans: Apple uses data from research studies and clinical expertise to ensure the accuracy of the health data provided by Vitals.