\n Smartwatches are popular because they bundle health tracking, connectivity and convenience into something you already wear every day.\n<\/p>\n
\n As the weather starts to get warmer and lighter, you can bet your bottom dollar scores of Brits will soon start littering the streets, donning a smartwatch of some kind.\n<\/p>\n
\n But you need to know how to use it.\n<\/p>\n
\n According to a YouGov<\/a>\u00a0poll, 35% of Brits use a wearable device which can be used to track fitness goals and monitor their health.\n<\/p>\n \n But it can be difficult to know what features to pay attention to.\n<\/p>\n \n Dr Shireen Emad, GP and medical consultant for Watches2U<\/a>, has revealed the three alerts that you shouldn\u2019t dismiss.\n<\/p>\n \n Heart rate\n<\/p>\n \n One of the most common smartwatch functions is heart rate monitoring, typically used during exercise.\n<\/p>\n \n But this feature could also potentially prevent cardiac events such as strokes and atrial fibrillation.\n<\/p>\n \n Dr Shireen said: \u201cSmart devices can pick up your heart rate, and if the rhythm becomes irregular, you\u2019ll get an alert for that.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThat can be really useful, especially when you\u2019re looking at what someone\u2019s baseline is.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n She added: \u201cWhen there\u2019s a sudden change, it\u2019s detected. Highlighting issues with the heart early means we can take action quickly.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cFor example, if it picks up things like atrial fibrillation, which is where your heart rhythm is irregular, your doctor can then put you on blood thinners, which helps reduce your risk of a stroke or heart attack.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n Stress indicators\n<\/p>\n \n Smartwatches can also tell when you\u2019re stressed, sometimes even before you can, due to how the body physically reacts to certain factors.\n<\/p>\n \n Dr Shireen said: \u201cSometimes we\u2019re under so much stress that we don\u2019t even realise it until it\u2019s too late.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cSo if your watch is picking up that your body is under strain, it can act as a warning sign and prompt you to reflect on what\u2019s going on in your life.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n You can also look to see if there are patterns for when your smartwatch signals stress, such as work or social interactions, and find ways to better adjust your lifestyle.\n<\/p>\n \n Change in calories burned\n<\/p>\n \n Calorie counting is a common reason people purchase smartwatches, as it allows them to better understand the impact their workouts are having.\n<\/p>\n \n But this feature isn\u2019t just useful for your fitness goals, as it could signal a greater health issue.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cYour watch will likely track your daily calories burnt, using your basal metabolic rate as well as any exercise you do that day,\u201d said Dr Shireen.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cIf on average you burn around 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, and then suddenly it drops to 1,000 or jumps to 2,500, you would question why.\n<\/p>\n \n Recommended reading:\n<\/p>\n \n Early birds and night owls issued heart risk warning after study assessed hundreds<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n Hundreds of flights cancelled as major airline that operates in the UK goes on strike<\/a>\n<\/p>\n