Why You Should Consider Getting a Stress Tracker Wearable

Have you considered getting a stress tracker wearable for yourself?

For years, we’ve been hearing about the importance of tracking our steps for fitness and health. Studies have even shown that those who use a pedometer are 44 percent less likely to break a bone and 66 percent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke. [1]

But did you know that researchers have now found a way to track your stress levels? It’s true! And it’s a total game changer for our health.

So, let’s learn all about these stress trackers, including why they work, how they work, and how you can find a stress tracker wearable for yourself.

 

The Rising Rates of Stress in America

By now, it’s no secret that stress in the average American is on the rise. Not only are we managing never-ending to-do lists, but we’re also trying to balance more than our ancestors ever attempted.

Between the demands of our modern world, including being constantly accessible thanks to technology, raising kids, maintaining romantic relationships and friendships, running our homes, having a career, caring for aging parents, and managing finances, it really never ends.

Plus, there are always those big-life stressors that come along—both good and bad. Planning a wedding. Getting a divorce. Having a baby. Losing a parent. Interviewing for a new job. Getting laid off. Oh, and what about that pandemic we’re still trying to come out of?

The problem with all of this is that your body was only build to handle short-term stress.

Instead, we’re piling so much onto our plates that we’re becoming chronically stressed.

In fact, 77 percent of Americans reporting regularly experiencing physical symptoms due to stress. [2] And up to 90 percent of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related problems. As you can see, it’s one of the most prevalent health concerns in our modern world. [3]

Meanwhile, a recent study revealed that the pandemic is only increasing our stress levels—so much so that incidents of stress-related heart disease has increased by at least five times since the pandemic hit! [4]

All this chronic stress leads to adrenal fatigue, which then sets off a cascade of physiological events that ultimately result in major disease development.

The truth of the matter is that chronic stress has been linked to many major health concerns, including: nutrient depletion, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, impaired immunity, cancer, mental illnesses, and more. [5]

And, unfortunately, the trends are showing that it’s a problem that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. So, what do we do?

That’s a question the scientific community has been grappling with, and they’ve come up with an interesting answer: use a stress tracker wearable!

 

What's a Stress Tracker Wearable?

OK, so what, exactly, is a stress tracker wearable?

As I mentioned above, scientists have been trying to figure out what to do to help our bodies handle the copious amounts of stress we’re under. And now certain tech companies are getting on board by developing what's known as a stress smartwatch.

The bottom line here is that due to the rising rates of stress-induced diseases, companies are now creating devices to track your stress levels, much like pedometers track your steps.

Currently, the majority of stress tracker wearables measure your heart rate, not only for the standard beats per minute (bpms) but also your heart rate variability.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the amount of time between each heartbeat, and this is important because low HRV is typically associated with stress. [6] But that’s not all.

Low HRV is also associated with diabetes, heart disease, chronic inflammation, and even all-cause mortality. [7, 8, 9] So, you can see why the stress tracker wearable should track this important measurement.

With more stress tracker wearables coming out almost every day, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. And some that are due to release soon are even rumored to be able to detect anxiety attacks, though that hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Meanwhile, others include sweat sensors designed to monitor your cortisol levels.

So, let’s take a closer look at some of the options so you can choose the best stress tracker wearable for you.

 

Stress tracker wearable - Dr. Pingel

 

3 of the Best Stress Tracker Wearables

Here’s a look at a few of the top stress tracker wearables you may want to consider purchasing.

1. Apple Watch Series 6 ($429)

One of the more exciting features of the Apple Watch Series 6 is that it uses a build-in blood oxygen monitor.

The monitor in this stress tracker wearable senses quick, shallow breathing that’s commonly related to being in a stressed state and also linked to anxiety and panic attacks.

The blood oxygen monitor measures how well the oxygen is being carried from your lungs to the rest of your body via your red blood cells. And the Apple Watch Series 6 will measure your blood oxygen level between 70 and 100 percent.

This not only helps track your stress levels, but it’s an especially useful feature during our COVID era as well! Plus, this stress tracker wearable also measures your HRV, which we know is extremely important for tracking stress levels as well!

2. Fitbit Sense ($330)

Another option for a great stress tracker wearable is the Fitbit Sense. It’s the first one to track stress through electrodermal activity, which shows how well your skin conducts electricity.

The Fitbit Sense also provides a daily stress score so you can better understand how your body is handling stress from day-to-day.

Additionally, this stress tracker wearable tracks your blood oxygen, breathing rate, and HRV, which shows if your body is exhibiting signs of stress, fatigue, or even illness.

3. Whoop Strap ($180 for a 6-month subscription)

When it comes to getting an affordable stress tracker wearable, you may want to check out the Whoop Strap, which ends up costing $30 per month for a six-month subscription.

So, how does the Whoop Strap stack up to the other stress tracker wearables in terms of features?

Just as with the other options, the Whoop Strap monitors your HRV. But it also provides a strain score, a score between 0 and 21 that rates how much your heart was strained throughout the day.

The goal? Your strain rate reveals how your body is responding to stress so that you can make more informed decisions and be more aware of your daily stress levels.

Choosing the Right Stress Tracker Wearable For You

Look, the truth of the matter is that you can’t really go wrong by making an effort to track your stress levels. When choosing a stress tracker wearable, consider these elements: price and level of detail you want.

Any insight will help you make more informed decisions for your health. And sometimes seeing your stress levels in the form of data is the wakeup call we need to truly take control of one of the leading causes of poor health in our modern world.

So, consider making this investment in yourself and truly get to know your body and how it handles stress. You may be surprised by how much better you feel once you become more aware and conscious of just how much stress you’re exposing yourself to.

 

Key Takeaways