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How to Use Health and Fitness Tracking on WearOS

WearOS watches offer comprehensive health and fitness tracking through built-in sensors and manufacturer health apps. Features range from basic step counting to advanced metrics like ECG and body composition analysis.

Heart Rate Monitoring​

Track your heart rate continuously or on demand depending on your preferences.

  • Continuous Monitoring: Enable in Google Fit or your manufacturer's health app (like Samsung Health) to track heart rate automatically throughout the day and during workouts. This provides resting heart rate trends and alerts for unusual readings.

  • Manual Readings: Open your health app, select Heart Rate, and keep your watch snug and still for 10-15 seconds. Manual readings work best when you're resting and the watch sits flat against your wrist.

  • Battery Consideration: Continuous monitoring uses more battery. Consider periodic monitoring (every 10 minutes) if battery life is a priority.

Workout Tracking​

Record exercise sessions with GPS, heart rate zones, and performance metrics.

  • Starting Workouts: Open Google Fit, Samsung Health, or Fitbit and select your workout type. Alternatively, say Hey Google, start a run for hands-free activation. Many watches auto-detect common activities after a few minutes of movement.

  • Tracked Metrics: Your watch records GPS route, heart rate zones, calories burned, pace, distance, and elevation depending on workout type. Swimming workouts track laps, strokes, and SWOLF scores.

  • Ending Workouts: Swipe to end workout and view your summary. Data syncs to your phone app where you can see detailed analysis and historical trends.

Sleep Monitoring​

Track sleep quality by wearing your watch to bed.

  • Automatic Detection: Your watch detects when you fall asleep and tracks sleep stages (light, deep, REM), duration, and sleep efficiency. Data appears in your health app after you wake.

  • Sleep Insights: Review sleep trends over time to identify patterns. Some watches offer sleep coaching with recommendations for improving sleep quality.

  • Bedtime Features: Set bedtime reminders and smart alarms that wake you during light sleep stages for easier mornings. Enable sleep mode to disable notifications and reduce display brightness.

Advanced Health Features​

Premium health features vary by watch manufacturer and model.

  • Blood Oxygen (SpO2): Available on most 2022+ WearOS devices. Take manual readings or enable overnight monitoring to track oxygen saturation during sleep.

  • ECG (Electrocardiogram): Galaxy Watch 4+ and Pixel Watch 2+ can detect irregular heart rhythms by placing your finger on the watch. Results can be shared with your doctor. Regional availability varies.

  • Body Composition (Samsung): Galaxy Watch 4 and newer measure body fat percentage, muscle mass, skeletal mass, and water percentage using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Requires bare contact with sensor electrodes.

  • Blood Pressure (Samsung): Galaxy Watch 4+ can estimate blood pressure after calibration with an external cuff. Currently available only with Samsung phones and in certain regions.

Health Data Management​

Control where your health data goes and how it's used.

  • Google Fit Integration: Google Fit serves as a central hub connecting data from various fitness apps and devices. Enable third-party app connections to consolidate health information.

  • Health Connect: Android's Health Connect platform allows data sharing between health apps. Configure which apps can read and write your health data in Settings Privacy Health Connect.

  • Data Privacy: Health data is encrypted on your device. Review sharing settings in your health app to control what information syncs to the cloud or shares with third parties.

See Also: Best WearOS Fitness Watches|Samsung Health Sync Troubleshooting|WearOS Battery Drain Solutions

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