Podcast Summary: "Hands-On Apple 213: Apple Health Checkup!"
Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Host: Micah Sargent
Episode Title: Hands-On Apple 213: Apple Health Checkup!
Date: January 8, 2026
Episode Overview
In this episode, Micah Sargent takes listeners on a comprehensive, feature-by-feature walkthrough of the current Apple Health app on iOS and Apple Watch. The focus is on the latest additions to the Health Checklist, updates to notification features, and how users can maximize the app for better health tracking and wellness. This hands-on guide is ideal for both returning and new Apple Health users who want to ensure they're taking advantage of everything the app has to offer in 2026.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Navigating the Health App & Accessing Features
- Getting Started: Micah instructs listeners on how to dive into the Health app (“Tap on your face in the top right corner… to the right of the word summary.”) [02:10]
- Health Checklist: The episode revisits the Health Checklist, highlighting the expanded range of features since last reviewed.
2. Detailed Walkthrough of Key Health Features
Emergency & Safety Tools
- Emergency SOS: Automatically contacts emergency services and designated contacts when triggered. [03:10]
- "This gives you the ability to say, hey, something's going on and I need help." – Micah [03:20]
- Medical ID: Essential information for first responders, including allergies and organ donor status. [03:55]
- Crash & Fall Detection: Detects car accidents or hard falls, with fall detection exclusive to Apple Watch. [04:30]
- Device Availability: Each feature lists which Apple devices support it.
Health Monitoring & Notifications
- Walking Steadiness Notifications: Assesses gait to predict elevated fall risk, offering early alerts for users and caregivers. [05:30]
- Heart Health:
- High/Low Heart Rate Alerts: Notifies the user when heart rates exceed or drop below thresholds, customizable by the user. [05:50]
- ECG App & Irregular Rhythm Notifications: Monitors for atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other irregularities. [07:00]
- Blood Oxygen Monitoring: Now calculated on iPhone due to legal issues, but still accessible for users. [07:50]
- Vitals (Overnight Monitoring): Tracks metrics like breathing and heart rate overnight to flag unusual changes. [08:20]
- Noise Notifications: Alerts when environmental noise exceeds 90 decibels for extended periods (3+ minutes). [08:50]
- Sleep Apnea Detection: Combines blood oxygen, respiration, and heart rate changes to notify potential sleep apnea risk. [09:20]
- Headphone Notifications: Warns about unsafe volume levels, supporting Apple and some third-party audio devices. [09:55]
- AFib History vs. Irregular Rhythm: Users with atrial fibrillation can track AFib history, while others track irregular rhythms—only one can be active at a time. [10:30]
New & Enhanced Features
- Hypertension Notifications: New to Apple Watch, uses pattern detection to flag possible hypertension. [06:20]
- "[Hypertension notification] is very especially and specifically worded to say it detects patterns that may be hypertension." – Micah [06:25]
- Cardio Fitness: Rates user’s cardiovascular response to activity; notifies of low fitness. [06:45]
- Blood Pressure Logging: In-app reminders prompt users to log BP at various times, creating helpful logs over days or weeks. [16:30]
- Medication Reminders: Notification system includes time zone awareness for travelers, syncing reminders to local time zones. [15:30]
Mental Health Tools
- State of Mind Notifications: Prompts users to check in and rate their mood, tracking emotional trends over time. [17:30]
- "The state of mind is a really cool feature to use if you maybe have trouble checking in with yourself and want an external reminder to do so." – Micah [17:40]
- Mental Health Questionnaires: Allows scheduling of standardized assessments for anxiety and depression. Notifications can be monthly, tri-monthly, or biannual. [18:10]
Trends & Health Records
- Trends Notifications: Monitors and notifies users about longitudinal changes—activity increases, respiratory changes, etc. [12:30]
- New Health Records: Immediate notifications for new medical records and prescriptions are available if linked to provider portals. [13:15]
Sleep Management
- Sleep Schedule Notifications: Reminds users of wind down and bedtime, with settings adjustable for optimal nightly routines. [14:15]
- "It changes the brightness, it can do quite a few things and then it over the course of that time it can turn on your sleep focus mode which lets you truly wind down for the night." – Micah [14:30]
- Sleep Scores & Sleep Focus: Sleep tracking enhanced with scores and system settings for better sleep hygiene.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On critical health notifications:
"If you are inactive… and your heart rate is detected on the Apple Watch above a level that you set… it will notify you and say, hey, your heart rate's really high right now. Something might be going on." – Micah [05:55] -
Balancing features for AFib:
"Apple lets you decide between the two. Either you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and so you want to keep track… or… you want to keep track of irregular rhythms that could then be diagnosed as atrial fibrillation." – Micah [10:35] -
On mental wellbeing prompts:
"Over time you start to see a log, you start to see an understanding of what might be impacting your day." – Micah [17:50] -
On the evolution of the Health app:
"It's jam packed with lots of awesome things… it's worth checking it out from time to time to see what new features you're able to take advantage of." – Micah [21:00]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:10 – Accessing the Health app and Health Checklist
- 03:10 – Emergency SOS and Medical ID features
- 05:30 – Walking steadiness and fall detection
- 06:20 – Introduction of hypertension notifications
- 07:50 – Blood oxygen measurement update
- 08:50 – Noise notifications and hearing safety
- 09:20 – Sleep apnea notifications explained
- 12:30 – Trends notifications for health data analysis
- 14:15 – Sleep schedule and bedtime reminders
- 15:30 – Medication reminders and time zone smart tracking
- 16:30 – Blood pressure logging
- 17:30 – Mental wellbeing tools and check-ins
- 18:10 – Mental health questionnaires
- 21:00 – Importance of revisiting the Health app for new features
Tone and Delivery
Micah maintains an approachable, enthusiastic, and practical tone throughout the episode, frequently providing first-hand tips (“I have mine set to…”) and practical explanations for each feature’s real-world utility.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a valuable resource for Apple Health users, offering a granular look at the app’s capabilities and reminding listeners to regularly review what new features are available. With clear, actionable guidance, Micah helps ensure listeners can leverage Apple’s latest health technology for their own wellbeing.