Apple has released a major update to watchOS 9 during the WWDC 2022 keynote which includes new health features. Apple will introduce new apps such as AFib history, a workout app, a sleep tracking app, and so on.
Apple’s VP of health Dr. Sumbul Desai, operations chief Jeff Williams, and VP of fitness technologies Jay Blahnik spoke with TechCrunch’s Darrell Etherington following the WWDC 2022 keynote last week about new health features in watchOS 9. During this interview, they discussed elaborately the new and improved health-related functions that are available in watchOS 9.
New Health Features for WatchOS 9
The Apple Watch’s new health features include:
AFib History
This feature allows people who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation to see how often their heart is in this type of arrhythmia.
Apple states that the feature is intended for individuals diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who are at least 22 years old. Desai confirmed that the AFib History feature received FDA approval in the United States following clinical validation.
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“As Jeff alluded to, everything we do in health is based on the science, and AFib history was validated in a clinical study, with participants wearing both Apple Watch and an FDA-cleared reference device,” said Desai. “In that study, the average difference in weekly measurements between the two devices is actually less than 1%.”
Sleep Stage Tracking
Additionally, the Apple Watch is equipped with sleep stage tracking, which enables the wearer to view the amount of time spent in each of the three stages of sleep (REM, core, and deep sleep), as well as the time at which they may have awakened. (Apple uses the term “core sleep” to refer to what is commonly referred to as “light sleep.”)
“Prior to sleep stages, we were really focused on helping people meet their sleep duration goals since that’s really important — that consistency — but we wanted to go a little further and dig into the science, and provide users with more information around their sleep cycles,” said Desai. “So using the signals from Apple Watch’s accelerometer and heart rate sensor, users will now be able to see their sleep stages while they’re in REM, core, and deep sleep.”
Fitness Tracking
The company developed its fitness features from relatively simple activity tracking to an advanced suite of metrics management and a variety of professional, guided workouts. This includes three new metrics for runners that can help avoid injuries, including stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation
With this app, you can keep track of a variety of personal data, including your heart rate zone, power, and elevation.
According to Blahnik, this application will be beneficial for “advanced as well as beginner athletes.”