The Fitbit Sense and Sense 2 are two of the best health-focused smartwatches out there because of the comprehensive health features Fitbit has packed into a smartwatch, including features to help you monitor and manage stress!
With the Sense 2, you can even keep an eye on your stress levels or elevated body reactions throughout the day using the new cEDA sensor and an updated algorithm.
Your Fitbit Sense series watch (or Fitbit Charge 5, which also offers this feature) helps you understand how stress often occurs, what might have triggered it, and how you mentally and physically respond to that stress.
You track your stress with your Fitbit Sense series watch and daily stress management score in the Fitbit app to understand how many physical signs of stress you have on a daily basis.
Armed with this information, you can then take appropriate coping measures. This is very useful for effectively managing your overall stress levels and hopefully avoiding the negative effects that stress has on your health and well-being.
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This article dives into some of the details surrounding Fitbit Sense's stress management rating and rating features.
Contents
- 1 How does Fitbit detect and monitor stress?
- 2 Existing research on electrodermal activity and emotional state
- 3 How do I use the Fitbit Sense stress management feature?
- 4 Stress management score missing from Fitbit Sense?
- 5 Access Stress Score on Fitbit Sense
- 6 Understand your Fitbit Sense stress scores
- 7 How to improve stress management score on Fitbit?
- 8 Final Thoughts
How does Fitbit detect and monitor stress?
With the Sense, Fitbit has doubled down on what it does best: tracking your health.Fitbit Sense is equipped with a biosensor core.
In other words, this smartwatch has been equipped with the latest Fitbit sensor technology to measure your heart rate, blood oxygen saturation level, heart rate variability, skin temperature and electrodermal activity.
And with the Sense 2 model, Fitbit has updated its electrodermal activity sensor so that it monitors your body's reactions all day and continuously (called the cEDA sensor). experience stress.
Electrodermal activity is the core component of Fitbit's stress detection
This is unique to the Fitbit Sense and Charge 5 as the watch uses its Body Response sensor (EDA on the original Sense and Charge 5) or (cEDA on the Sense 2) along with theEDA-Scan-Appto detect the electrodermal activity and then calculate the stress.
This is also calledGalvanic skin reaction sensorand measures small changes in the conductivity of your skin's surface.
Fitbit's proprietary algorithms calculate your stress score based on an assessment of your electrodermal activity AND other metrics like your heart rate variability.
Research has shown that heart rate variability increases during relaxation and recovery activities and decreases during stress. Accordingly, HRV is typically higher when the heart is beating slowly and decreases when the heart is beating faster.
While other wearable platforms like Garmin create a stress score based primarily on heart rate variability, the Fitbit Sense can take advantage of the built-in EDA sensor.
The new PurePulse 2.0 continuous heart rate monitor correlates electrodermal activity with HRV to give you a more accurate stress score.
Other cheaper wearables out there primarily use HRV using the optical heart sensor.
Because heart rate and HRV generally have an inverse relationship, these sensors examine your heart rate data and determine if you are in a state of stress.
- The four most important sweat sensor functions coming soon to your smartwatch
The best sensors for detecting stress are the ones that canMeasure the cortisol level in your sweatand draw conclusions. However, this technology has yet to be commercialized by the leading wearables manufacturers.
Existing research on electrodermal activity and emotional state
A long list of research makes the connection between our emotional states and GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) activity, suggesting that our sweat glands go into overdrive mode when we experience certain emotions. (1).
This is especially true for emotions surrounding “anger” and 'Happiness.'
In one study, researchers used happy and sad music on participants while collecting a range of measurements such as GSR and heart rate.
They found a significant increase in GSR activity related to the SCR (skin conductance response) in the happy music state compared to the sad music state. (3).
How do I use the Fitbit Sense stress management feature?
There are two specific features when it comes to understanding your stress level with your Fitbit Sense.
The first of these is operated via the EDA Scan app on your Fitbit Sense
Tapping the EDA Scan app requires you to sit still and relax for more than two minutes while the system collects information and stores it in the mindfulness tile.
An EDA scan accomplishes two things:
- It gives you an insight into your current stress level (right now).
- Provides strategies for managing and reducing stress through breathing exercises, meditation, and other mindfulness practices.
Unlike other sensors, the EDA scan app does not work automatically in the background. You must manually open the app and take a measurement.
How to use the EDA Scan app on your Fitbit
- On your Fitbit, tap OpenEDA-Scan-App.
- ChooseFast scan. You can also chooseguided sessionfor a longer 60-minute relaxation. The 2-minute quick scan shows your EDA response, while the longer session lets you listen to a meditation session in the Fitbit app for up to 60 minutes.
- Place your palm on the screen - your hand must touchall 4 sidesof the Fitbit frame.
- Remain calm and calm during the scankeep your hand on your Fitbit for the full 2 minutes. If you remove your hand, the scan will pause. To continue, put your hand back on the screen.
- Wait for the Fitbit to vibrate, indicating the scan is complete!
- Tap Record to reflect how you're feeling, tap Skip, then swipe down to see the summary of your EDA scan, including your number of EDA responses, your heart rate at the start and end and each added reflection.
EDA response rates vary. However, you'll get fewer EDA responses when you're calmer and more when you're under stress.
Stress management score missing from Fitbit Sense?
We've seen several new Fitbit Sense users complain about not being able to find their stress levels. The stress management score seems to be missing from their Fitbit app.
Please note this is normal. It typically takes 4 to 5 days for the Fitbit Sense system to record all of your activity and evaluate the baseline metrics to generate a stress score.
If you recently bought the Fitbit Sense and are simplesee a zero scorefor stress management it is normal. Give it a few days, and then your daily stress scores will appear on the Today tab.
Fitbit recommends wearing the Sense for a full day before it can show you your stress score, but we've found it takes more than two to three days for some users.
Also note that the stress score is only available to you when you use the heart rate function. This is enabled by default on your Fitbit Sense and Versa 3.
If you don't see a sleep metric, make sure your heart rate tracking feature is working.
The good news is that unlike older Fitbit devices, you can't turn off heart rate tracking on the new Sense or Versa 3.
If your HR tracking isn't working, it may mean the sensor is defective and you'll need to contact Fitbit Support and request a replacement device.
How to access the stress score on Fitbit Sense
The second stress management feature is embedded in the Fitbit app.
Here you can find your stress management score and see how your body responds to stress based on your heart rate, sleep and activity data.
Start by tapping the Today tab. Next, tap the Stress Management Score tile. Here you can find the daily stress score. If you swipe up on this screen, you will see a history of your stress levels.
When you open the Fitbit Premium app on your mobile device, your stress management score is available along with some insights right after your activity/step metrics details.
New Sense owners can use Fitbit Premium for free for a year, after which a monthly subscription is required.
Understanding your Fitbit Sense stress levels
Stress scores range from 1 to 100. According to Fitbit, a higher number indicates you are less stressed.
You will receive a daily stress score every morning. This number does not change throughout the day.
- A high score indicates that your body is showing fewer signs of physical stress, so you might consider starting a new project or exercising.
- A low reading indicates your body is showing signs of stress, so you might want to take a break — go to bed early or meditate.
The scoring function uses more than ten different factors to calculate the aggregate stress score. These factors are clearly divided into three main categories.
- Responsiveness: heart rate data and Electrodermal Activity (EDA),
- Stress balance: Effect of physical activity on your stress level.
- Sleep patterns: Effect of sleep duration and quality on your stress level.
A quick tip:If you want to measure your stress at intervals throughout the day, use the EDA Scan app and take a reading.
How to improve stress management score on Fitbit?
Try to reduce stress in your daily life! Easier said than done, here are some pointers that can help you manage your stress better and improve your score.
- Intelligentes Training. Please don't overdo it and push too hard for too many days without allowing your body to recover. Train consistently. As mentioned earlier, a higher HRV means less stress. You can get a higher HRV by using a certain amount of sprint training or interval training. Try it and see how it feels.
- Steady healthy diet.
- sleep quality.It's not just about the amount of sleep you get, but your sleep quality and consistency. It is beneficial to go to bed and wake up at similar times each day.
- auto regulationIn general, it's helpful to try to get your body on a consistent schedule (particularly with sleep and food). Your body does things more efficiently when it knows what to expect.
- hydration.The more hydrated you are, the easier it is for your blood to circulate and deliver oxygen and nutrients to your body. It's a good goal to drink nearly an ounce of water for every pound of body weight every day.
- Avoid alcohol.A night of drinking can negatively affect your HRV for up to five days and indirectly affect your stress score.
- PracticeResonanzatmungat least twice a day. You can use the guided meditations available through the Fitbit Premium app.
The Fitbit app has tools to help you manage stress, including mood logging to reflect how you're feeling and content related to mindfulness, sleep, activity, and nutrition. Try these features and see if you can manage your stress better.
Final Thoughts
In Summe,The Fitbit Sense is definitely a cutting-edge smartwatch focused on providing a comprehensive toolset to help you lead a healthy lifestyle.
Fitbit's stress management capabilities through the new Sense take a unique multi-pronged approach to tracking stress by integrating common metrics such as heart rate variability (HRV) and resting heart rate elevation, as well as EDA readings and heart rate readings captured during sleep.
The only small caveat is that we hope that the next generation will include a better EDA app design that is more intuitive.
We hope you found this Fitbit Sense guide useful. Please let us know if you have any questions. We'd also like to hear about some of your favorite tips and tricks you use with your Fitbit Sense.
References:
[1] Alaoui-Ismaïli, O., Robin, O., Rada, H., Dittmar, A., Vernet-Maury, E. (1997). Basic emotions evoked by odorants: comparison between autonomic responses and self-assessments. Physiology and Behavior 62, 713–720.
[2] Williams, L.A., Das, P., Liddell, B., Olivieri, G., Peduto, A., Brammer, M., Gordon, E., 2005. Fat, sweat and fears: fMRI and skin conductance distinguishing facial fear signals . NeuroReport 16, 49-52
[3]Khalfa, S., Roy, M., Rainville, P., Bella, S.D., Peretz, I., 2008. Role of tempo-following in the psychophysiological distinction between happy and sad music? International Journal of Psychophysiology 68(1), 17–26
FAQs
How does Stress Management work on fitbit sense? ›
Your stress management score in the Fitbit app can help you see how your body responds to stress based on your heart rate, sleep, and activity level data. You can also reflect on how stressed you are to see connections between how you feel and your score.
Is fitbit sense stress accurate? ›It can measure blood oxygen (SpO2) levels and electrodermal activity for stress. Sensors are accurate. New SpO2 and stress-management tools are less helpful than they sound. Optical O2 sensors bug out occasionally.
What is a good Stress Management score on Fitbit? ›How Fitbit's Stress Management Score works. When you wake up, open the Fitbit app to see your Stress Management Score, which gives you insight into how your body is handling stress. The score ranges from one to 100, with higher numbers showing less physical stress and vice versa (so remember, high is good).
How does a smartwatch know you're stressed? ›The stress level feature allows a user to determine their current level of stress based on their heart-rate variability. When using the feature, the watch uses heart rate data to determine the interval between each heartbeat.
Does Fitbit Sense detect irregular heartbeat? ›Check for atrial fibrillation with Fitbit
Plus, use irregular heart rhythm notifications to look for signs of AFib while you're still or sleeping.
The Fitbit ECG app software algorithm was able to correctly identify people with AFib 98.7% of the time and correctly identify people with a normal sinus rhythm 100% of the time. Does my Fitbit wrist-worn product support the Fitbit ECG app?
Is there a Fitbit that tracks blood pressure? ›Can Fitbit measure blood pressure? Since Fitbit's own study was just launched in April 2022, there are no results available yet. However, the Fitbit devices will estimate blood pressure using pulse arrival time, which does have some available data.
What should your average stress level be? ›The stress level range is from 0 to 100, where 0 to 25 is a resting state, 26 to 50 is low stress, 51 to 75 is medium stress, and 76 to 100 is a high stress state. Knowing your stress level can help you identify stressful moments throughout your day.
What is a normal stress score? ›stress. ► Scores ranging from 0-13 would be considered low stress. ► Scores ranging from 14-26 would be considered moderate stress. ► Scores ranging from 27-40 would be considered high perceived stress.
What should be the stress level in smartwatch? ›When using the stress tracking feature, smartwatches use heart rate data such as bpm to determine the interval between each heartbeat. The less variability between beats equals higher stress levels, whereas an increase in variability indicates less stress.
How do I check my stress level? ›
- Depression or anxiety.
- Anger, irritability, or restlessness.
- Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or unfocused.
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
- Racing thoughts or constant worry.
- Problems with your memory or concentration.
- Making bad decisions.
A more variable heart rate indicates lower stress levels whereas a less variable heart rate indicates high stress levels. The stress measurement is an estimate. For instance, if you're not moving but your heart rate is high, your watch could still note a high stress level. The watch can confuse excitement with stress.
Can fitbit sense detect AFib? ›Fitbit smartwatches and trackers have optical sensors that can detect the pulse of blood that goes to your wrist with every heartbeat. The Fitbit Irregular Rhythm Notifications feature collects heart rhythm and motion data to check for signs of AFib.
Is atrial fibrillation the same as heart palpitations? ›Listen to your heartbeat: Your heartbeat will be very erratic with AFib, while with palpitations it'll beat fast but in a steady pattern and slowly return to normal.
Can a Fitbit cause heart palpitations? ›Heart disease is a common and important cause of palpitations. You might notice your pulse (heart rate) has changed if you are wearing a device such as a Fitbit.
What's better Apple Watch or Fitbit? ›While both brands offer outstanding, high-quality wearables, Fitbit has more budget-friendly options, superior battery life, and better health and fitness tracking than the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch edges out the Fitbit in terms of accuracy, convenience, and extra features, but it may be too pricey for some users.
How accurate is Fitbit Sense blood oxygen? ›The data provided by Fitbit SpO2 is intended to be a close estimation of your blood oxygen saturation levels, but may not be precisely accurate. You should not use or rely on Fitbit SpO2 for any medical purposes.
Is Fitbit Sense ECG FDA approved? ›The detection algorithm analyzes these changes for irregularities and signs of possible atrial fibrillation. Thanks to the FDA's approval, there are two ways to detect AFib with Fitbit, including via the ECG app and via the PPG-based algorithm.
What is the best Fitbit for heart rate and blood pressure? ›Best for heart health tracking: Fitbit Sense
The Fitbit Sense has many similar features to the Versa 3. The two models share the same GPS and heart rate tracking functionality and offer the same sleep options. Both also have the Active Zone feature and can monitor the oxygen levels in a user's blood.
Conclusion. The differences between the Fitbit Sense 2 and the original Fitbit Sense are small, and sometimes a little surprising. The Sense 2 has the cEDA sensor that monitors your stress level and supports 40 training modes. On the original Sense, you'll find Google Assistant and support for music apps.
How accurate is fitbit sense resting heart rate? ›
In fact, Fitbit has been fine-tuning its devices, making each new release better at tracking fitness stats than the previous debuts ever did. As it stands, Fitbit's Pure Pulse technology works well within the industry standards for wrist-based heart rate monitor, with an average error of at most 6%.