An Apple Watch a Day: Features on New Apple Watch Focus on Healthy Lifestyles
On September 21, 2020, Luis Alvarez, CEO of Alvarez Technology Group, shared some great news about how the Singapore government will start rewarding Apple watch owners for living healthier lifestyles.
Luis began by explaining that Apple has had Apple watches for a few years but recently released new watch models that included innovative new technology of interest to those wanting to keep track of their health and monitor their lifestyle. He continued to explain that these health-related wearables usually include features that can track your sleep, heart rate, activity levels, etc. When new wearable devices are introduced to the market like the new Apple Watch, there are usually new features to improve our health even more.
So, in addition to the usual features, Apple’s new watch can monitor the wearer’s blood oxygen levels. This is relevant in today’s COVID-19 virus times because lower-than-normal blood oxygen levels are one of the indicators of having the virus. So for people who are concerned about contracting COVID, wearing a new Apple Watch is one way to keep track of it.
Health care wearables like the Apple Watch and FitBit are very popular in Singapore. Luis explained that recently the government has begun to give its citizens new Apple Watches, so they can keep track of and monitor their lifestyles. Their goal is to monitor their activities like meditation and physical activities, and if they meet special criteria, reward them with cash at the end of the year.
Luis then explained that the states have many health care insurance companies who provide their customers with health-related wearables too. FitBits in particular, are free of charge, so patients who have early-stage diabetes and other conditions can keep track and help them maintain their health. For instance, if you have a BlueCross BlueShield insurance health plan, Luis encourages anyone who is interested to contact them to learn if they have a program to enroll in. The whole idea is that if we monitor our behavior and we are healthier because of it, the overall cost of delivering health care is reduced, which in the end is good for everybody.
Although the readings on watches aren’t the one vital arbiter for accuracy, Luis said it is always recommended to either consult your doctor if you are concerned or purchase a regular medical-certified oximeter. Luis concluded that wearable devices like the new Apple Watch are accurate enough to give you an indication of early signs of health-related problems.
