Apple Watch oxygen sats

[hazelnutchocolate]

does anyone know if the Apple Watch oxygen saturation reader is accurate?!

I got my Apple Watch purely because I thought it was cool and I’ve wanted one for a while to count steps etc, I didn’t even realise it could check things like oxygen on it and found that by accident today! It’s been recording mine for the last week or so, and from looking at the chart it’s normally sitting about the 96-97 mark (but has been ranging between 90-100)

I know 96/97 is normal so I’m not concerned at all, just curious about whether it’s even accurate? I’ve had heart problems before but nothing serious and when I was in hospital it was always around 100, except when I had been tachycardic for a long time and it would drop a little but still normal, like 95-97 IYSWIM. It’s never been really low or had any problems. So for example when my Apple Watch drops down to 90/91/92/93 is that likely just because it’s sitting out of position or something like that? I’m assuming a simple watch on my wrist can’t accurately check oxygen and it’s just a cool novelty feature that isn’t really accurate, just wondered if anyone on here knew!

Not accurate. If you feel well I wouldn't worry!

None of the metrics are accurate. Personally (and professionally) I hate smart watches. Half of my time at work is spent reassuring people that their watch cannot measure brain waves and their lack of "deep sleep" isn't something they need to take as a gospel. It breeds so much anxiety that I recommend people get an old-fashioned pedometer for £5 if counting steps is the only thing they need.

that’s exactly what I was thinking- that this must be a nightmare for causing people to panic!

realistically I know I’m fine, I’m not unwell in the slightest, and I know that a watch that’s not even fully sitting correctly on my wrist cannot accurately check these things, however I can see that for someone with health anxiety it would cause massive stress for them!

yeah, I should have just got that and normally would have because all I want is for counting steps and that’s all I’m using it for but I got a good deal on it and thought what the heck I’ll get it. Probably a waste of money since all I’ve done is check my steps and change my Spotify songs on it!

Ive just got one to measure steps and of course it has all this other stuff on it. Ive already worked out that the 'stress' level cannot be accurate given it sits on green all the time and my oxygen just stays at 100%,w ell that cant be right

Plus I have to turn on sleep and then turn off sleep when Im sleeping so it only tells me what I know, oh I had 7 hours sleep last night, well I know that because I can tell the time

Yeah, it's awful. It's a slippery slope for people obsessing with heart rate, deep sleep, sats, variably heart rate .. you name it. It doesn't even count steps accurately and it is yet another way preventing people from fully switching off from technology.
The only thing I hate more is continuous glucose monitors in healthy adults. Rant over 😂

I get what you're all saying, but had I not seen that my O2 regularly dropped into the 80s at night, according to my watch, I would not have realised that my daytime sleepiness, forgetfulness etc were actually sleep apnea! A sleep study confirmed it.
Since using a CPAP machine, my O2 readings are now 95+ at night.
It's not all completely useless!

Im glad you said that about the steps. Mine isnt an apple, its Samsung but they're all much of a muchness

According to this watch, I have done over 3000 steps in my house today.

Simply not possible

Its telling me Ive done over 9000 today, 6000 of those on a walk, and even thats generous, so the other 3000 must be done inside this house. Its a 3 bed semi!!!