Skip to main content

Apple Health

Apple's next big thing

See All Stories
Dear Tim letters

When the Apple Watch was originally released in 2015, it was pitched as a great watch, an intimate way to communicate, and a comprehensive fitness device. While the original Apple Watch (later renamed Series 0) lacked GPS and was generally a slow device, it has shown dramatic improvements year over year particularly for Apple’s health initiatives.

When Apple released the Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watches, it added heart rate monitoring for Apple Health. When you enable heart rate monitoring, you  can also turn on heart rate notifications, so you know if your heart rate remains above or below a chosen beats per minute (BPM), or to occasionally check for an irregular heart rhythm. Irregular rhythm notifications are available only with watchOS 5.1.2 or later in certain countries.

With Apple Watch Series 4, Apple added a electrocardiogram monitoring (also known as ECG and EKG). The ECG app on Apple Watch (Series 4 or newer) can record your heartbeat and rhythm using the electrical heart sensor and then check the reading for atrial fibrillation (AFib). It then records that information into the Apple Health app.

Since the release of Apple Watch, there have been countless stories of people’s lives being saved by the health advancements in Apple Watch and Apple’s Health initiatives.

If you have an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, here’s a how to guide on how to take an ECG.

Apple also includes a Health app on the iPhone where it easy to learn about your health and start reaching your goals. It consolidates data from iPhone, Apple Watch, and third-party apps in one place.

Top Stories on Apple Health

Apple Watch customer identifies A-fib heart condition after dismissing symptoms as ‘holiday anxiety’

Apple Watch Series 4 ECG

The Apple Watch Series 4’s ECG function has only been available for a month, but it’s already proving to be life-saving for some. WMUR reports today that a Nashua, New Hampshire man discovered he had atrial fibrillation with his Apple Watch, and rushed to the emergency room.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Mayo Clinic sees big success with AI detecting weak heart pumps via ECGs, could work with Apple Watch in the future

In an interview with CNBC today, the Mayo Clinic’s chair of cardiovascular medicine, Dr. Paul Friedman shared that they have seen promising results using AI to detect an often symptom-less heart defect. It’s called asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, which means a weak heart pump. In Mayo Clinic’s studies, they are using AI to read ECGs and finding impressive results identifying weak heart pumps and even predicting individuals who will be at risk in the future.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Withings brings ECGs to its new analog smartwatch and blood pressure monitor, launches affordable smartwatch with 18 month battery life

Withings ECG smartwatch

Withings has unveiled a trio of new products tonight at CES. We’ve got new a 3-in-1 health device called BPM Core that can take blood pressure, ECGs (electrocardiograms), and also be used as a stethoscope. Withings has also introduced Move ECG, the first analog smartwatch to offer ECGs, and a new affordable smartwatch collection called Move.


Expand
Expanding
Close

AutoSleep 6 introduces Siri Shortcuts support, new design and reports, more

autosleep iphone apple watch

AutoSleep is my go-to app for tracking sleep quality with the Apple Watch (although the watch isn’t required), and today the sleep tracking app is receiving a major update. AutoSleep 6.0 introduces a new look including a darker dark mode, new ways to view your sleep data and suggestions for how to improve sleep quality, and a new Siri Dashboard feature that works with Siri Shortcuts on iOS 12.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple expanding its health expertise to managing disease, reportedly now has 50 doctors on staff

December has been a big month for Apple’s health efforts as its long-awaited ECG (electrocardiogram) app for Apple Watch Series 4 recently landed. Now a new CNBC report looks at how serious Apple is taking its health focus moving forward. It now has as many as 50 doctors on staff across a variety of teams and projects to help users do more than just track exercise and fitness.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple Watch ECG readings

Apple Watch ECG launch in Canada unclear as Health Canada says it hasn’t received an application from Apple

The Apple Watch Series 4 officially added the ECG app in the United States last week, but details regarding an international rollout remain unclear. In a post on Twitter, Health Canada said that it has yet to receive an application from Apple to bring Apple Watch ECG support to the country…


Expand
Expanding
Close

New development in case of Apple Watch customer who discovered heart condition with ECG app, featured on Good Morning America

Apple Watch ECG saves life

We reported last week about one of the first Apple Watch users who was surprised to find that he had atrial fibrillation (A-fib) after using the new ECG app. Now, that same 46-year-old was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, sharing more details about how Apple Watch potentially saved his life.

Interestingly, Ed Dentel had some chest pain earlier this year, but received normal results after an electrocardiogram. If it weren’t for his Apple Watch and the warnings from his readings last week, he likely would have had no idea about his heart condition.


Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Mac Happy Hour 202: Apple Music coming to Echo, iPhone XR clear case, Apple Watch ECG launch

9to5mac happy hour

This week Benjamin and Zac share a quick review of the Smart Folio cover for the new iPad Pro, talk about Apple Music coming soon to Amazon’s Echo speakers, recent iPhone XR discounts and Apple’s marketing strategies, the launch of the Apple Clear Case for iPhone XR, the 18W USB-C charger, and lots of software updates and new features including iOS 12.1.1 and FaceTime fixes, HomePod in China, dual SIM in the US, and the new ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4, plus much more.

9to5Mac Happy Hour is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play Music, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by ZUGU Case: Check out ZUGU’s new Muse case for Apple’s 2018 iPad Pro and enter our 12.9-inch iPad Pro giveaway below.

Sponsored by Atlassian’s OpsGenie: Opsgenie empowers Dev & Ops teams to plan for service disruptions and stay in control during incidents. Get a free company account for up to 5 team members, forever.


Expand
Expanding
Close

[Update: ECG app released] Review: Apple Watch Series 4 — beautiful design, invisible features

When people ask me what’s different about the new Apple Watch Series 4, my immediate answer is simply the design. There’s way more to Apple Watch Series 4 than its appearance, but the way it looks is arguably the one difference that anyone can appreciate.

The design isn’t so different that Series 4 feels like something different than the Apple Watch on your wrist though. It’s absolutely the biggest external change to Apple Watch since the original, but I’ve encountered a number of existing Apple Watch users who can’t immediately pinpoint what’s different.

I think that’s partly because the first three Apple Watches pulled off a great illusion: blending a thick black bezel with deep black elements using the OLED display. If you’re very familiar with the actual confines of the previous screen, the new rounded corner-to-corner display feels like a serious breakthrough.

While design is a major advancement on Apple Watch Series 4, it’s the features that you can’t see and may never need that matter the most.


Expand
Expanding
Close

watchOS 5.1.2 for Apple Watch now available with ECG app, new Infograph complications, more

Dear Tim letters

watchOS 5.1.2 for Apple Watch is now available. For Apple Watch Series 4 customers, the update unlocks the promised ECG app that captures a live electrocardiogram using the Apple Watch heart rate sensor and Digital Crown. The new watchOS update also includes new Apple app complication options on the new Infograph and Infograph Modular watch faces and more.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple Watch Series 4 getting the ECG app today with watchOS 5.1.2

Apple Watch ECG readings

Apple Watch Series 4 is getting the hotly anticipated ECG feature today. The ECG app will appear for customers using Apple Watch in the United States, after updating to watchOS 5.1.2 (releasing later today). The 5.1.2 update will also include irregular heart rate notifications for Apple Watch Series 1 through Series 4.

To take an ECG, users simply place their finger on the digital crown and wait for 30 seconds whilst the Watch scans the electrical impulses in your finger.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications