How to Use Your Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Sensor to Improve Your Health
If you own an Apple Watch, there’s a lot more to it than just tracking steps and checking texts. Did you know your watch can also measure the oxygen levels in your blood? Pretty cool, right? In this post, we’ll explore how to use the Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor, what blood oxygen levels mean, and how they can help give you a better picture of your overall wellness.
Let’s dive in and make sense of how this tiny device on your wrist can help you breathe a little easier—literally.
What Is Blood Oxygen and Why Should You Care?
Before we get into the how-to part, let’s break down the basics.
Your blood oxygen level—often referred to as SpO₂—is a measure of how much oxygen your red blood cells carry. It’s usually given as a percentage. A typical reading ranges between 95% and 100%.
Why is this important? Your body needs oxygen to function. Muscles, organs, and especially your brain—none of them work properly without it. If your oxygen levels drop too low, it could be a sign of an underlying issue like:
People are becoming more aware of this metric, especially since the pandemic prompted more interest in personal health tracking. Enter: the Apple Watch.
Which Apple Watch Models Support Blood Oxygen Monitoring?
The blood oxygen sensor is available on the following Apple Watch models:
If you’re using anything older than the Series 6, unfortunately, this feature isn’t available.
Setting Up the Blood Oxygen App on Your Apple Watch
Getting started is simple. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to get it working.
Here’s what you need to do:
1. Check Compatibility and iOS Version
Make sure:
2. Set It Up Through the Health App
When you first pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone, the Health app will ask if you want to enable the blood oxygen feature. If you skipped this step or want to turn it on later:
Easy, right?
How to Take a Blood Oxygen Reading
Ready to take your first reading? Here’s how to do it:
You’ll see a percentage pop up at the end. That’s your blood oxygen level!
Tips for More Accurate Readings
Want the most accurate results? Keep these pointers in mind:
What Do the Results Mean?
Now comes the part everyone’s curious about—what does your blood oxygen level tell you?
Normal levels usually fall between 95% and 100%. If you consistently see numbers below 90%, it could be a sign to check in with your doctor.
But don’t panic over one low reading. A lot of factors can cause a dip, like:
That’s why Apple recommends looking at trends over time rather than focusing on single results.
Automatic Background Readings
Here’s a cool feature—not only can you manually check your blood oxygen level, but your Apple Watch can also gather readings throughout your day and night automatically.
These passive readings won’t interrupt you. The watch quietly tracks your SpO₂ in the background and stores the data in the Health app. You can view this data any time and even track how your oxygen levels vary as you sleep, work, or exercise.
To make sure background readings are on:
Real-Life Example: How It Helped Me
I started paying more attention to my blood oxygen levels when I felt unusually tired in the mornings. My Apple Watch showed that my overnight SpO₂ levels dipped below 90% several times. It turned out I had a mild case of sleep apnea I never knew about! Thanks to that data, I was able to talk to my doctor and get proper treatment.
Sometimes, the little things your watch tells you can lead to big changes.
Remember: It’s a Wellness Tool, Not a Medical Device
Here’s the important disclaimer—the Apple Watch is not meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions. It’s a wellness tool designed to give you insights into your body.
If something seems off or you see unusual readings repeatedly, don’t rely solely on your watch. Contact a healthcare professional.
Other Health Features You Should Try
While the blood oxygen sensor is impressive, don’t forget your Apple Watch also tracks:
All of these together can create a clearer picture of your well-being.
Wrap-Up: Should You Use the Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Sensor?
Absolutely! The Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor can be a valuable health companion. It’s simple to use, runs in the background, and can give you helpful snapshots of your respiratory and overall health.
To recap:
So if you’ve got one of the newer Apple Watch models, take advantage of this powerful feature. After all, health is wealth—and your watch is here to help you protect both.
What’s your experience using the blood oxygen sensor? Share in the comments below!
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Now you’ve got the know-how. Isn’t it amazing what a wristwatch can do these days?