Apple Watch excels in bringing health-intensive features to every user. One of the most notable capabilities that it can do is to measure your blood oxygen levels through its SpO2 sensor.
Did you know that this little timepiece can display accurate results which are comparable to the usual pulse oximeters? A new study says that it's as reliable as medical-grade devices.
Apple Watch's Blood Oxygen Reader is Impressive
As Digital Trends reports, the SpO2 reader of the Apple Watch can be used to display blood oxygen levels in your body. The latest study confirms that it can pose accurate readings which we usually see from medical-grade pulse oximeters.
The study entitled "Commercial smartwatch with pulse oximeter detects short-time hypoxemia as well as standard medical-grade device: Validation study" concluded that the standard Apple Watch is deemed to be a "commercially available smartwatch" which shares similar capabilities with the pulse oximeter.
The researchers used the Apple Watch Series 6 in the study. It's the first model of the Cupertino tech firm which made use of the SpO2 sensor.
Additionally, the study wrote that the smartwatch is capable of reliably detecting "reduced blood oxygen saturation under 90%" using the SpO2 sensor.
How the Experiment Happened
For the experiment, the researchers involved 24 participants who are all healthy. They were instructed to wear an Apple Watch Series 6. On the same hand, a Masimo Radical-7, a pulse oximeter is attached to the middle finger of the person.
The researchers told the participants to conduct some breathing exercises to see if there are changes in the readings. The group collected 642 blood oxygen readings from the subjects.
The results surprised the researchers. They discovered that it's as reliable to use as the common pulse oximeter. This suggests that Apple is improving the health-centered features of its smartwatch so it could compete with the other giant brands in the market.
Aside from the blood oxygen measurement, the SpO2 sensor can also tell the users their sleeping patterns, irregular heartbeat rhythms, and medication intake reminders.
Apple does not mention that its Apple Watch can be used as a substitute for medical pulse oximeters. However, it clearly shows that the company is now ready to take it to huge heights.
It's important to remember that medical-graded devices are still reliable options for health tracking, but it's good to know that Apple is stepping up to produce quality wearables that are handy to use for extra monitoring.
Apple Watch Saves Patient's Life
Aside from health monitoring, the Apple Watch can also save a person's life in emergencies like in the case of a doctor who accidentally fell from his house when he was power washing.
According to 9to5Mac, Dr. Thomas Ficho said that the Apple Watch Series 5 was his life-saver that day. He also urged his patients to rely on the smartwatch.
Upon dropping to the ground, the fall detection feature was activated. The emergency team immediately addressed the accident and arrived at the location in under five minutes.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry
