Health

Did You Know Your Fitness Devices Can Track Sleep Too?

October 4, 2018

Sleep and fitness go hand in hand because good sleep is essential to keep the body and mind fit. And, it only seems likely that makers of wearable tech thought to combine fitness and sleep by designing gear that can track both.

While traditional sleep studies are done manually where someone actually observes you as you sleep, to monitor breathing patterns, heart rate, muscle activity, brain waves and more, doctors sometimes resort to actigraphy, which involves using a device to monitor sleep patterns.

Even though these sleep trackers may not be as accurate as the real science, there has been a lot of improvement in their design and functionality over the years. Apart from tracking sleep, some devices even provide tips for achieving peaceful sleep, bedtime reminders and other useful features.

If you personally want to or have been asked by your doctor to study your sleep patterns, you may want to consider one of the following sleep tracking devices.

Top 6 sleep trackers that you could consider:

1Fitbit Charge 2

With its sleek design and OLED display, the Fitbit Charger 2 has the latest sleep tracking software with an accurate heart rate monitor that can detect and record the different sleep stages like light, deep and rapid eye movement (REM). It also provides a graphical explanation of your sleep pattern and the time at which you were in a particular sleep stage. The tracker also has a decent battery life and can last for up to four hours.

2Fitbit Alta HR

Another slender tracker from Fitbit, this one has a longer-lasting battery that can last for up to seven days and offers features that appear in other more expensive versions. It can track different sleep stages and provide tips for good sleep habits while allowing you to set reminders. It also has a breathing and relaxation feature.

3Fitbit Ionic

One of the latest smartwatches in the market, this one from Fitbit is said to be very accurate with its advanced fitness and sleep tracking abilities. The tracker provides detailed graphs of your sleep patterns and constantly tracks your heart rate. It also provides alarms, reminders and tips for improving your sleep. The smartwatch is waterproof, so you can take it with you into the pool.

4S+ by ResMed Personal Sleep Solution

Unlike earlier models that had to be placed under the mattress, this model can be placed on your night table for an impressive analysis of your sleep. The device is designed to study your activities through the day and the environment in which you sleep to provide useful information to improve your sleep.

5Withings Aura Smart Sleep System

This device has three features, a bedside unit to measure your surrounding factors like light and temperature, an app to view the reports and a strap to place on the bed. Its special features include a reading light, a wake-up light and of course, a tracker.

6Emfit QS

Another contact-free sleep tracking device, the Emfit QS is designed especially for athletes and provides in-depth reports showing sleep patterns, heart rate variations, breathing patterns, disturbed sleep forcing you to toss and turn and other readings.

Sleep is an integral part of our well-being and if you need to resort to a device to understand the different stages of sleep you go through, triggers for disturbed sleep and to learn how to get better sleep, one of these devices may be right for you. Just make sure that you try and set a sleep schedule so that you can gradually streamline your sleep routine to enjoy a good night’s sleep every night.

The content of this Website is for informational purposes only, is general in nature and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and does not constitute professional advice. The information on this Website should not be considered as complete and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions, or their treatment. You should consult with your physician before beginning any exercise, weight loss, or health care program and/or any of the beauty treatments.