Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch 5 series comes with a slew of features. There are several health tracking features on the Galaxy Watch 5 including SpO2 or blood oxygen level tracking. If you own a Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and want to know your blood oxygen level, then this guide is for you. Here I am going to share a complete guide on how to measure blood oxygen on Galaxy Watch 5.
The new Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro come with improved health tracking sensors Thanks to the new curved sensor design, the Galaxy Watch 5 can measure health and fitness levels better than the Galaxy Watch 4. This is because the curved sensor design gets closer to the skin and shows accurate data. Before we move on to the actual guide, you should know about blood oxygen or SpO2.
What is Blood Oxygen Level?
It is the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood. Blood oxygen is also known as SpO2 (saturation of percutaneous oxygen). So blood oxygen levels indicate how effectively your blood is carrying oxygen throughout your body. It overall relates to breathing efficiency.
Blood oxygen levels are measured in percentages which represent the percentage of hemoglobin in your red blood cells that are oxygenated.
What is a normal blood oxygen level?
The normal blood oxygen level or SpO2 level is between 95% and 100%. In COPD or other lung diseases, the range can be different which you will know from Doctors. SpO2 levels below 95% can be a symptom of a disease. If the SpO2 level is less than 88% it is considered critical.
Now let’s see how you can measure SpO2 levels with Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Here are the prerequisites that you need to follow first.
Requirements:
- Setup your Galaxy Watch 5
- Install the Samsung Health app on your phone
- Rest at least 5 minutes before measuring the SpO2 level
- Wear your watch about a finger’s width above your wrist joint for a snug fit
How to Measure Blood Oxygen on Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
The Blood Oxygen feature on the Galaxy Watch 5 is enabled by default in all regions and on all Android phones. Here are steps you can follow to check your blood oxygen level.
- Go to the Watch Face screen by tapping on the top button.
- Now swipe from the right edge to the left until you find the Blood Oxygen tile.
- If the blood oxygen level tile is not available by default then you will find Add tiles option after the last tile. But if it is available jump to the 5th step.
- Tap on Add tile and choose the Blood Oxygen tile and add it to the preferred location.
- Now once the Blood Oxygen tile is available, get ready for the measurement.
- For accurate results, the watch should be away from the wrist joint, place your elbow on a table, and hold your wrist near your heart.
- Now tap on the Measure button and stay still until it gives the result.
- After 100%, you will see the results that will show your blood pressure in percentage.
You can also check the result history on the Samsung Health app on your phone.
Note: Sometimes the watch also shows blood oxygen levels below 90%, especially during sleep. This is incorrect without saying because less than 92% are considered very low and symptomatic. But in manual measurements, the watch shows correct data if you follow all the instructions suggested by Samsung.
What if the Blood Oxygen level is low?
If the Blood Oxygen level is lower than normal (96-100%) then it is called hypoxemia. And in case of lower blood oxygen level you should consult with Doctor.
Although the Galaxy Watch 5 comes with a blood oxygen feature, it doesn’t show accurate data every time. As mentioned in the note the watch even shows the SpO2 level below 90% which can’t be the case if you feel good. So it is preferred to use a specific device made for this purpose like Oximeter.
If the Galaxy Watch 5 shows less SpO2 level then you must try measuring it multiple times following the instructions given on the Watch.
Can you rely on Galaxy Watch 5 for SpO2 level?
No, you can not completely rely on the Blood Oxygen result of the Galaxy Watch 5. Its data is not always correct.
Samsung also shared a note for not to rely on the data on the watch as the results can vary as it depend on various conditions.
“Keep in mind that that blood oxygen measurement is for fitness and wellness only, not for the diagnosis of any medical condition. If you are concerned about your blood oxygen level, make sure to see a medical professional“
So this was the complete guide on how to measure blood oxygen level on Galaxy Watch 5. I hope you found the guide helpful. In case of any queries then let us know in the comment section.
Galaxy Watch 5 Guides:
Well its a huge disappointment as Sp02, BP and heart rate were the main criteria when I bought the watch. Not cheap and really should have put a few more $$ and buy the Apple watch instead. But since I have a Samsung Galaxy A53 thought it would be great… quite the opposite
Works pretty well on my right wrist, not on my left. Number consistently about 2% lower than a good finger clip. I am a lot happier than with my Fitbit Sense. Plus I get a useful overnight chart.