Hubbry Logo
Health (Apple)Health (Apple)Main
Open search
Health (Apple)
Community hub
Health (Apple)
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Health (Apple)
Health (Apple)
Health (Apple)
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Health
DeveloperApple
Initial releaseSeptember 17, 2014; 11 years ago (2014-09-17) (iOS)
September 18, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-09-18) (iPadOS)
Operating system
Type
Websiteapple.com/health Edit this on Wikidata

Health is a health informatics mobile app, announced by Apple on June 2, 2014, at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The app is available on iPhone and iPod Touch devices running iOS 8 or later, and on iPads running iPadOS 17 or later. The application collects health data such as blood pressure measurement and glucose levels, but also collects physical tracking data such as step counts.[1] It can pull data from fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart scales, and other devices.[1]

Features

[edit]

The Health app tracks and stores various health data and metrics, as well as clinical medical records for users with supported health insurers or hospitals signed up to the "Apple Health Records" program.[1] Data is divided into several categories: activity, body measurements, cycle tracking, hearing, heart, medications, mental wellbeing, mobility, nutrition, respiratory, sleep, symptoms, vitals, and other data.

Users with a connected Apple Watch will have their health information from the device automatically imported into the health app including their activity rings, walking and running distances, flights climbed, mindfulness minutes, sleep analysis, handwashing metrics, environmental noise levels, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and ECG measurements.[1][2] Health data can also be logged manually or through third-party applications.

Since iOS 13, Health has been capable of period and fertility tracking, allowing users to log their menstruation cycles and receive predictions as to when their next period may begin.[3] With iOS 16, Apple introduced medication logging, which allows users to track the medicines they are taking and set reminders for when to take them, as well as alerting users of potential drug interactions.[4] Both features are also available as standalone applications on watchOS devices. With iOS 17, users can also journal their daily emotions and moods in order to track their mental health, as well as take standardized anxiety and depression tests, which can be useful in knowing if it’s an appropriate time to consult a therapist.[5]

"Medical ID" profiles are also kept within the Health app, which allows for key medical information to be easily accessed by first responders without the need to unlock someone's device. Users can choose to what to display in their Medical ID, such as allergies, medications, blood type, organ donor status, and emergency contact details.[1] As of July 2016, users on iOS 10 or later in the United States have been able to sign up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor through the Health app.[6]

Initially, the Health app was criticized for its lack of compatible third-party applications (at its release on September 17, 2014, along with iOS 8), glucose tracking, proper health data explanations, and sluggish app performance.[7][8] Eventually, Apple fixed these issues with software updates.[9] In 2019, the Health app received a redesign as part of iOS 13, which simplified navigation of the app by replacing the dashboard with a summary tab and placing everything else under a "browse" tab, similar to the previous "health data" tab.

Screenshots showcasing a variety of first-party Apple Watch applications which connect directly with the Health app to provide metrics

Electronic Health Records

[edit]

In 2018, Apple's "Health Records" was introduced, which allowed on iOS 11.3 or later for users to import their medical records from their doctor or hospital.[10]

On June 6, 2019, Northern Louisiana Medical Center announced an early partnership with Apple to allow clinical medical records shared through the app.[11][12] Shortly after Apple began allowing compatible electronic health records (EHR) to self-register for the "Health Records" project.[11] Other partnerships in 2019 included University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Medical Center of South Arkansas; Northwest Health of Springdale, Arkansas; Blessing Health System of Quincy, Illinois; Doylestown Health of Pennsylvania; Franciscan Health; Bayhealth Medical Center of Dover, Delaware, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.[11]

HealthKit API

[edit]
HealthKit logo

HealthKit is the accompanying developer application programming interface (API) included in the iOS SDK (Software Development Kit) for the Mac. It is used by software developers to design applications that have extensibility and that can interact with the health and fitness applications on iOS.[13]

After the release of iOS 8 on September 17, 2014, Apple removed all HealthKit-compatible apps from its App Store to fix a bug that caused cellular and Touch ID issues, and then re-released Healthkit, with the release of iOS 8.0.2, on September 26, 2014.[14]

As of February 2017, several manufacturers other than Apple sold hardware that was HealthKit enabled.[15]

ResearchKit & CareKit APIs

[edit]
ResearchKit logo

ResearchKit and CareKit are two other health-related software frameworks which Apple have introduced to further build upon the capabilities of HealthKit, allowing software developers to create applications for gathering medical research and following care plans, respectively.[16][17] Both APIs can interact with the health application and facilitate the sharing of health information between patients and doctors.

Apple has also introduced a standalone research application for iOS and watchOS devices, which allows users to volunteer and participate in long-term research studies run by Apple and various health partners.[18]

Employees

[edit]

In July 2018, Apple hired cardiologist Alexis Beatty, while working on the Apple Watch and Health integration.[19] David Smoley, former chief information officer of pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, was hired as a Vice President of Apple in June 2019.[20]

In October 2019, former Columbia University Medical Center cardiologist David Tsay joined Apple Health.[21]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Health (Apple)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Apple Health app is a built-in application for , , and that serves as a centralized platform for aggregating, storing, and analyzing personal and fitness data from Apple devices, third-party apps, and connected health records, enabling users to monitor trends in areas such as activity, , , and nutrition while prioritizing data privacy through . Launched in 2014 alongside , Apple Health integrates seamlessly with hardware like the for real-time tracking of metrics including steps, calories burned, and workouts via the Activity rings and Workout app, as well as advanced sensors for electrocardiograms (ECG), blood oxygen levels, and irregular heart rhythm notifications for (AFib). The app also supports sleep stage analysis and apnea detection using the 's accelerometer and breathing disturbances feature, addressing a condition affecting over one billion people globally, and incorporates Cycle Tracking for menstrual health insights derived from the Apple Women's Health Study, a longitudinal research effort involving over 120,000 participants to improve understanding of reproductive health. Beyond physical , Apple Health facilitates mental through mood logging in the app on and , emotional awareness reflections, and integration with the Journal app for state-of-mind tracking, while vision health features on , , and provide tools for digital wellness and light sensitivity adjustments. Hearing health is enhanced via AirPods Pro 2, which offer clinical-grade functionality, hearing protection, and tests for those affected by , estimated at 1.5 billion individuals worldwide. Medications management allows users to log prescriptions, track adherence, and receive interaction alerts, consolidating data from sources like electronic health records for a holistic view. Apple emphasizes user control and security, with all health data stored locally on devices or in encrypted iCloud backups requiring two-factor authentication, and no access granted to Apple without explicit permission; third-party apps must obtain user consent to read or write data via the HealthKit framework. The ecosystem extends to developer tools like ResearchKit for conducting health studies and CareKit for building patient care apps, fostering collaborations such as the Heart Study that validated AFib detection accuracy in over 400,000 participants. As of 2025, ongoing updates continue to expand capabilities, including blood pressure alerts and integration with Apple Fitness+ for guided workouts.

Overview and History

Introduction

The Health app is a central application for devices developed by , designed to aggregate, visualize, and manage personal and fitness data sourced from connected devices, third-party applications, and manual user entries. It serves as a unified hub for tracking diverse health information, enabling users to monitor trends and gain insights into their wellbeing. Announced on June 2, 2014, at Apple's , the app launched publicly on September 17, 2014, with the release of . Initially available on and running or later, support expanded to with the introduction of on September 18, 2023. At its core, the Health app aims to empower individuals with clear, actionable insights into , , and holistic , while prioritizing robust protections such as for stored data and user-controlled permissions for sharing. The interface includes a Summary for quick overviews of prioritized metrics, a Browse tab for navigating categorized , and built-in sharing capabilities to export summaries securely with trusted contacts or providers. It integrates with the to facilitate enhanced, real-time data collection from wearable sensors.

Development Timeline

The Apple app was first introduced alongside on September 17, 2014, as a central hub for aggregating personal health and fitness data from the and compatible devices. However, its launch faced immediate criticisms due to limited third-party app support stemming from a HealthKit bug that prevented integrations, alongside performance issues like data syncing glitches. These problems were addressed in , released on September 25, 2014, which enabled HealthKit functionality and restored app compatibility. A significant redesign arrived with in September 2019, transforming the app into a more personalized interface with enhanced data visualization and logging capabilities. Key among these was the introduction of Cycle Tracking, which improved period and fertility monitoring by allowing users to log symptoms, predict fertile windows, and view cycle insights directly within the app. This update leveraged HealthKit to facilitate seamless integrations with for more accurate tracking. In , released in September 2022, the app expanded into medication management with the addition of logging features for prescriptions, vitamins, and supplements, complete with customizable reminders and alerts for potential drug interactions based on user-entered data. This built on HealthKit's framework to pull in verified medication information from external databases, enhancing user safety and adherence. iOS 17 in September 2023 introduced mental health tools, including state-of-mind logging for momentary emotions and daily moods, alongside access to standardized assessments for anxiety and depression risk. These features allowed users to reflect on their emotional patterns over time, with insights correlated to other health data like activity and . The iOS 18 update in September 2024 brought further refinements, including enhanced medication tracking with better scheduling and verification options, customizable dashboards for prioritizing health metrics, and deeper integrations for mood logging with third-party apps. It also updated the Blood Oxygen experience for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 users in the United States via subsequent patches like iOS 18.6.1, while shifting sleep tracking to require an Apple Watch for standalone iPhone functionality. As of November 2025, —released in September 2025 as part of Apple's updated versioning scheme aligning with the year—introduces initial enhancements to the app, though a major revamp with AI-driven features and full AI health coaching capabilities, such as personalized wellness guidance under Project Mulberry, remain slated for a 2026 rollout as part of an expanded Apple service. Ongoing improvements have focused on bug fixes for data syncing issues, particularly for steps and sleep metrics, addressed in updates like and to improve reliability across devices.

Core User Features

Activity and Fitness Tracking

The Health app in Apple's ecosystem provides tools for monitoring and fitness through integration with the and sensors, centralizing data such as steps, distance, and calories burned to encourage consistent movement. Key to this functionality are the Activity rings—Move, Exercise, and Stand—which originate from the and sync seamlessly to the app for viewing and analysis. The red Move ring tracks active calories burned beyond basic bodily functions, estimated using motion sensors, data, and user profile details like age and . The green Exercise ring logs minutes of elevated activity, such as brisk walking or structured sessions, detected via and monitoring. The blue Stand ring records hours in which the user stands and moves for at least one minute each, promoting reduced sedentary time through hourly reminders. These rings visualize daily progress toward personalized goals, with data aggregated in the app's Browse tab under Activity for historical review. Core metrics in the Health app include steps counted automatically by motion sensors or accelerometers, walking and running distances derived from GPS and data, and flights climbed via readings on compatible devices. Calories burned are calculated as active energy expenditure, factoring in workouts like running, , or , where GPS tracks routes and sensors measure pace and for accuracy. During these workouts, heart rate integration from the provides context for intensity levels, contributing to more precise estimates without serving as a primary medical metric. Users can log workouts manually in the Health app by navigating to Browse > Activity > Workouts > Add Data, entering details such as total calories burned and start/end times to credit the Move and Exercise rings, which is useful for activities not automatically detected. Achievements, such as closing all rings for consecutive days, are awarded and viewable in the connected Fitness app, motivating sustained engagement. The Health app integrates closely with the Fitness app to offer trends and goal-setting features, allowing users to adjust daily Move, Exercise, and Stand targets based on weekly variations or personal milestones. In the Fitness app's Summary tab, users access 90-day trends comparing metrics like walking distance and exercise minutes against prior 365-day averages, with data pulled from Health for a unified view. With iOS 18, dashboard customization in the Health app's Summary screen was enhanced, enabling users to pin and rearrange activity categories—like steps or workouts—for quicker access to personalized summaries. This setup emphasizes voluntary tracking to foster long-term fitness habits, with all data stored securely on-device.

Vital Signs and Medical Monitoring

Apple's Health ecosystem provides passive monitoring of vital signs through integrated sensors on devices like the , enabling users to gain insights into physiological indicators without active intervention. The optical heart sensor on models uses green LED lights and photodiodes to measure continuously throughout the day, offering notifications for high or low rates that exceed user-defined thresholds, such as above 120 beats per minute or below 40 beats per minute during inactivity. This feature supports clinical insights by alerting users to potential irregularities, with the sensor validated for accuracy during low-intensity activities like walking. For advanced heart health monitoring, Apple Watch Series 4 and later models include irregular rhythm notifications, which use algorithms to detect (AFib) through periodic checks of heart rhythm patterns. The U.S. (FDA) cleared this software-only feature in 2021 as a mobile medical application, allowing it to identify irregular rhythms consistent with AFib and prompt users to seek medical attention. Complementing this, the ECG app on the same models enables users to perform a single-lead electrocardiogram directly from the wrist, generating a classification of , AFib, or inconclusive results after a 30-second recording. Introduced in 2018, this marked the first ECG product, with FDA clearance supporting its use for over-the-counter assessment of heart rhythm. Respiratory monitoring focuses on blood oxygen levels and breathing patterns, primarily via Apple Watch Series 6 and newer. The Blood Oxygen app measures peripheral capillary (SpO2) on demand using and LEDs to assess absorption in the blood, providing readings that reflect overall wellness or potential respiratory issues. In 11 and later, the device also detects disturbances during sleep by analyzing wrist movements with the , estimating breaths per minute and identifying interruptions that may indicate moderate to severe ; after 10 nights of monitoring over 30 days, it notifies users if consistent signs are present. This feature received FDA clearance in 2024 for notifications, emphasizing its role in early detection without requiring clinical-grade . Hearing health integration in the Health app includes passive notifications for excessive noise exposure from , tracking audio levels over time and alerting users when weekly exposure approaches unsafe thresholds, such as 80 decibels for extended periods, based on guidelines. Users can also import or create audiograms in the app, which map hearing sensitivity across frequencies from 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz, allowing personalized audio adjustments on compatible devices like AirPods Pro 2; these audiograms support clinical insights by enabling hearing healthcare professionals to review baseline data. Mobility monitoring addresses fall risk and gait stability through Apple Watch sensors. Fall Detection, available on Series 4 and later, uses the and to identify hard falls by detecting sudden changes in motion followed by immobility; if a fall is sensed, the watch taps the user and offers to call emergency services after 60 seconds of no response. Walking Steadiness, introduced in , assesses balance, , and stride using iPhone motion data (with Apple Watch integration), providing a daily score categorized as steady, okay, or low, and notifying users of persistent low steadiness to prevent falls, particularly in older adults. These features draw from algorithms trained on diverse gait patterns to offer proactive clinical alerts. In response to U.S. regulatory changes stemming from a 2024 patent dispute, Apple reintroduced an enhanced Oxygen feature in August 2025 via 18.6.1 and 11.6.1 updates for Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models sold in the U.S. The redesigned functionality processes data on the paired to generate SpO2 readings, restoring access after an 18-month absence while complying with U.S. Customs and Border Protection rulings on import eligibility. The Medical ID feature in the Health app serves as an emergency-accessible profile, storing critical information such as allergies, medical conditions, medications, , and emergency contacts, which first responders can view from the iPhone without unlocking the device. On Apple Watch, enabling Medical ID sharing automatically transmits this data to emergency services during SOS calls or texts in supported regions, enhancing response times for vital sign-related incidents.

Mental Wellbeing and Reproductive Health

Apple's Health app includes features designed to support mental wellbeing through self-reported logging and assessments, enabling users to track and reflect on their emotional states. Introduced with , the State of Mind feature allows users to log momentary emotions—such as feeling grateful or worried—using a slider ranging from very pleasant to very unpleasant, along with optional contextual factors like exercise or social interactions. Daily moods can also be recorded retrospectively via a interface, providing a structured way to monitor patterns over time. These logs contribute to insights that highlight trends, such as how moods correlate with lifestyle elements including sleep quality, levels, or mindful minutes, helping users identify potential influences on their emotional health. To further assess mental health risks, the app offers standardized questionnaires for depression and anxiety, available to users aged 13 and older in supported regions. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 () evaluates depression symptoms, while the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) measures anxiety levels, both licensed from and processed entirely on-device for privacy. Results provide an informational risk level based on validated scoring guidelines, along with links to local resources, but emphasize that these are not diagnostic tools and recommend consulting healthcare professionals. Users can export assessment summaries as PDFs or share data selectively via Health Sharing, with all mental wellbeing information encrypted on-device and in to ensure it remains private unless explicitly permitted. For reproductive health, Cycle Tracking in the Health app facilitates logging of menstrual periods, symptoms, and related factors to predict and understand cycle patterns. Users can mark period start and end dates, log symptoms like cramps or mood changes, and record additional data such as spotting or from compatible models. The feature generates predictions for the fertile window—a six-day period around —based on historical logs or integrated ovulation test results, with optional notifications for upcoming cycles. estimates are retrospectively calculated using wrist temperature data from Series 8 or later, available in select countries, enhancing accuracy for . Cycle history is visualized through charts showing average cycle length, period duration, and symptom trends over time, allowing users to review up to 12 months of or it as a PDF for sharing with providers. These tools support broader reproductive health tracking, such as pregnancies, while maintaining on-device processing to protect sensitive information. Insights from Apple's Women's Health Study, involving over 100,000 participants, have informed refinements to these predictions, demonstrating variations in cycle factors influenced by age, BMI, and ethnicity.

Sleep, Nutrition, and Medication Management

The Apple app enables users to track through integration with , which estimates the duration and stages of sleep, including time spent awake, in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, core sleep (light non-REM), and (slow-wave non-REM). Sleep stage tracking, introduced with watchOS 9, requires wearing an Series 3 or later model to bed for at least one hour, with data processed overnight and viewable the next morning in the app on . While iPhone-based sleep schedules remain available for setting goals and basic tracking, detailed analysis including stages depends on Apple Watch data for greater accuracy. A key addition in iOS 18 and watchOS 11 is the Sleep Score, a 0-100 rating calculated 15 minutes after waking, which evaluates overall quality based on factors such as total time asleep, adherence to sleep goals, consistency, frequency of awakenings, and distribution across sleep stages. Users can review detailed breakdowns, including percentages of time in each stage and (on supported models), to identify patterns influencing rest. For instance, core sleep typically comprises the majority of non-REM rest, while supports physical recovery, and REM aids cognitive function, with the app providing visualizations to highlight these proportions over time. Nutrition tracking in the Health app focuses on manual logging and third-party integrations rather than built-in food scanning, allowing users to record intake directly via the Dietary Water category and import on calories, macronutrients (such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), and other dietary elements from compatible apps. Popular integrations include , which syncs logged meals to for a centralized view of daily caloric intake and macro breakdowns, helping users monitor progress toward personalized goals like balanced nutrient distribution. tracking supports hydration goals by aggregating manual entries or app-synced , displaying trends in fluid consumption to encourage consistent intake. Medication management, introduced in , allows users to create schedules for prescriptions, vitamins, and supplements in the app, specifying frequency (e.g., daily, weekly, or cyclical), dosage, and timing to receive customizable reminders via notifications on , , or . Reminders can include follow-up alerts if a dose is not logged within 30 minutes and critical alerts that bypass Do Not Disturb for urgent medications. In the U.S., the app provides interaction warnings by analyzing listed medications for potential conflicts, such as adverse effects from combinations, drawing from verified pharmaceutical data to prompt users to consult providers. iOS 18 enhances this with streamlined logging interfaces and better integration for verifying intake directly from reminders, improving adherence tracking. The Health app offers trends analysis for and , including consistency charts that visualize bedtime regularity and sleep duration over 14 days or more, helping users correlate patterns with overall —such as how irregular sleep may influence mood logs in the app's reflective features. For , users can set and track goals through integrated apps, with Health aggregating data into summary trends for metrics like average daily calories or water intake, providing highlights when targets are met or exceeded. These visualizations prioritize long-term patterns over daily fluctuations, enabling informed adjustments to routines.

Data Integration and Management

Electronic Health Records

The Electronic Health Records feature in Apple's Health app enables users to import and manage clinical records directly from participating healthcare providers, facilitating a centralized view of medical history alongside personal health data. Introduced with iOS 11.3 in 2018, this capability leverages the (FHIR) standard to securely transfer electronic medical records from hospitals and insurers. Early partnerships included institutions like Medicine and EHR vendors such as , with subsequent expansions to providers including . As of 2022, Health Records is supported by over 800 healthcare institutions across more than 12,000 locations. Since , users in the United States can also share specific Health app data, such as activity levels and , directly with their healthcare providers through participating institutions, enabling bidirectional integration of personal health information. To connect a provider, users open the Health app, navigate to the Browse tab, select Health Records, and search for their organization by name or location; they then sign in with their patient portal credentials to authorize the import. Alternatively, for specific records like test results or immunizations, users can scan a or tap a shared link provided by the healthcare authority to initiate a one-time download. Once connected, records are automatically updated periodically without manual intervention, though users must maintain active provider accounts for ongoing access. Supported data types encompass key clinical information such as lab results, immunizations, allergies and adverse reactions, medications, procedures, conditions, and summaries from provider visits. These records integrate into the app's timeline view, blending seamlessly with user-entered or device-tracked data to create comprehensive health profiles that highlight trends and summaries across categories. Data is stored securely using HealthKit for local management on the device. Availability of the feature is limited to participating providers, with initial rollout focused on the and gradual international expansion to select regions like the and through additional partnerships. Not all healthcare organizations support FHIR-based exports, and compatibility depends on the provider's system and regional regulations.

Third-Party Device and App Compatibility

The Apple Health app supports integration with a wide variety of third-party peripherals, enabling users to aggregate from external devices directly into the centralized Health ecosystem. These devices, which primarily utilize (BLE) standards for efficient, low-power connectivity, include cuffs from manufacturers like and , as well as smart scales from brands such as Renpho and Eufy that measure body weight, , and other composition metrics. Numerous third-party apps, with tens of thousands using the HealthKit framework as of 2022, allow seamless sharing of fitness and health metrics with the app, such as steps, workouts, and heart rate data. Examples include for activity tracking and cycling routes, and for syncing daily activity summaries, though requires intermediary apps for full compatibility due to platform restrictions. This data flow is facilitated through HealthKit, Apple's framework that standardizes secure exchange between apps and the app. Users maintain granular control over third-party access via the Health app's privacy settings, where permissions can be toggled for specific data categories, such as read-only access to steps or write permissions for workout logs. This allows selective sharing, ensuring apps and devices only interact with authorized health information types like activity, , or . With 18, Apple enhanced third-party compatibility by expanding direct from devices like monitors and glucose meters, improving syncing reliability for fitness metrics across ecosystems to reduce delays and data inconsistencies. At the Health app's launch with iOS 8 in 2014, compatibility faced initial challenges due to a HealthKit bug that temporarily blocked third-party app availability, which Apple resolved in the subsequent iOS 8.0.1 update to restore full integration support.

Developer Frameworks and Tools

HealthKit API

The HealthKit API, introduced with in September 2014, serves as the foundational framework for storing, querying, and sharing health and fitness data on Apple devices. It establishes a centralized repository that aggregates data from various sources, including built-in sensors and third-party apps, while ensuring user-controlled access. At its core, the API defines a through subclasses of HKObjectType, such as HKQuantityType for numerical measurements (e.g., step counts or ) and HKCategoryType for discrete values (e.g., analysis stages). These types support a wide range of health metrics, allowing developers to read and write samples in a standardized format. HealthKit's functionality emphasizes secure , with all information stored locally in an encrypted database on the user's device; is automatically applied when the is locked, protecting against unauthorized access even if the is physically compromised. Developers can use query methods like HKSampleQuery for retrieving individual data samples and HKStatisticsQuery or HKStatisticsCollectionQuery for aggregating statistics, such as average daily steps or total distance over time. These queries enable efficient data retrieval without duplicating storage, as HealthKit merges samples from multiple sources to provide a unified view. The permissions model requires explicit user authorization for each data type via the Health app, ensuring granular control over what apps can read or write. Following its initial release, HealthKit received a critical update in on September 25, 2014, which fixed a bug that had delayed the availability of HealthKit-enabled apps in the . Later versions expanded the 's capabilities, adding support for advanced metrics like electrocardiogram (ECG) through classes such as HKElectrocardiogram, introduced in and , with enhancements in subsequent releases for broader third-party access. In practice, the facilitates seamless interchange between the native Health app and compatible services, allowing real-time synchronization of metrics like activity rings or vital signs across devices. It also supports extensions like ResearchKit for building research-focused applications that leverage this data infrastructure.

ResearchKit and CareKit Frameworks

ResearchKit is an framework introduced by Apple in to enable developers to create apps for studies. It provides tools for implementing processes directly on devices, designing interactive surveys to gather participant data, and conducting active tasks that leverage and sensors, such as and balance assessments for mobility analysis. For instance, the framework supports tasks like voice recording for speech analysis or spatial span memory tests to evaluate cognitive function. A notable application of ResearchKit is the Share the Journey app, developed in collaboration with Sage Bionetworks and UCLA, which focuses on survivors to study post-treatment symptoms like , cognitive issues, and emotional through surveys and activity tracking. The framework has also facilitated significant studies on , such as the mPower study by the and Sage Bionetworks, which used active tasks to collect real-world data on motor symptoms, tremor, and dexterity from thousands of participants. Additionally, ResearchKit has supported research, including observational studies analyzing physiological data from wearables to identify infection symptoms and predict diagnoses, as detailed in publications from the framework's ecosystem. CareKit, released by Apple in 2016, is another open-source framework designed for building apps that assist patients in managing chronic conditions and care plans. It includes components for creating dynamic care plans with scheduled tasks, tracking symptoms and outcomes over time, and facilitating communication between patients and care providers, such as sharing progress reports. Examples include the Corrie Health app, which supports after heart attacks by monitoring adherence to exercise and medication, and the Stanford Children’s Link app for tracking in infants with congenital heart defects. These tools emphasize patient empowerment through visual insights like trend charts for symptom progression. Both ResearchKit and CareKit integrate seamlessly with HealthKit to read and write , enabling the collection and analysis of longitudinal information from devices for ongoing studies and care management. Recent updates with 18 and later introduce compatibility with enhanced HealthKit APIs for features, such as state of mind logging and depression risk assessments, allowing developers to incorporate new active tasks focused on emotional wellbeing into and care apps. By 2025, these frameworks have enabled numerous and care applications, accelerating large-scale investigations into conditions like Parkinson's and contributing to rapid-response efforts during the .

Privacy, Security, and Company Involvement

Data Protection and User Controls

Apple's Health app prioritizes data protection through on-device storage and processing, ensuring that all health and fitness data is kept locally in an encrypted HealthKit database on the user's device. This approach prevents Apple from accessing the data on its servers without explicit user consent, as the information remains confined to the device unless the user chooses to share or sync it via . When the device is locked with a passcode, , or , the HealthKit store is encrypted, rendering the data inaccessible even to background apps until unlocked. User controls over are granular and require affirmative permission for any external access. Individuals can all in XML format directly from the Health app for personal records or transfer, while selective allows designation of specific data categories—such as or metrics—with third-party apps, devices, or healthcare providers. For minors, Family enables parents or guardians to request and view from a child's or , subject to the child's approval where applicable, facilitating monitored without broad exposure. with doctors, available in participating U.S. healthcare organizations, permits users to choose topics like activity or for transmission, with the option to revoke access at any time. In 18 and later, features for logging momentary emotions and daily moods in the app under Mental Wellbeing are safeguarded with when synced via , ensuring that even Apple cannot access this sensitive information without the user's device-specific keys. This builds on broader data protections, where iCloud syncing requires two-factor authentication and employs to maintain across devices. The app integrates briefly with Medical ID, allowing emergency contacts to view critical details like allergies even when the device is locked, without compromising other data. Compliance with standards like HIPAA is maintained for electronic health records (EHR) shared with providers, as data transmissions to healthcare organizations use encrypted channels where Apple holds no decryption keys. Users can opt in to contribute anonymized data for research through mechanisms in the Health app, which add noise to usage statistics of types on-device before any aggregation, limiting contributions to one per day and excluding personal identifiers. This opt-in is managed via Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Share iPhone Analytics. Additional user tools empower full management of , including per-category permission revocation for apps—accessible via Health app > Sources > —to halt read or write access instantly—and comprehensive deletion options that remove specific entries or all , syncing the action across linked devices if is enabled. These controls ensure users retain sovereignty over their information, with no automatic retention or sharing beyond what is explicitly authorized.

Apple's Health Team and Initiatives

Apple's health team comprises specialized groups focused on both software and hardware development to integrate health features across its ecosystem. The Health Technology team, part of the broader hardware engineering division, designs sensors and systems in devices like the to monitor physiological data, while software teams within Services develop apps and frameworks to process and present this information. In October 2025, Apple reorganized its health and fitness divisions under the Services group led by Senior Vice President , consolidating efforts to enhance integration with services like Apple Fitness+. To bolster medical expertise, Apple has recruited prominent professionals in and related fields. In July 2018, the company hired cardiologist Alexis Beatty, MD, from the , where she contributed to the development of heart-related features and the Apple Research app during her tenure from 2018 to 2019. In October 2019, Apple brought on David Tsay, MD, PhD, a cardiologist and former associate chief transformation officer at Medical Center, to lead clinical efforts for products. That same year, in 2019, Apple appointed David Smoley as vice president, drawing from his experience as chief information officer at to support infrastructure for health initiatives. These hires reflect Apple's strategy to incorporate clinical insights into product design. Key initiatives include collaborations with academic institutions to advance research on preventive health. In November 2017, Apple partnered with Stanford Medicine to launch the Apple Heart Study, a large-scale investigation using the to detect irregular heart rhythms indicative of , enrolling over 400,000 participants and demonstrating the device's ability to identify potential health issues early. This partnership has extended to subsequent studies, such as the Apple Heart & Movement Study in 2024, which collects passive data from wearables to analyze activity and physiology at scale. Complementing these, the Apple Health Studies program leverages ResearchKit to facilitate app-based research, enabling participants to contribute data via the Apple Research app for studies on conditions like hearing health and women's wellness. Looking toward 2024 and 2025, Apple has expanded its focus on and AI-driven tools. The company integrated features from apps like Headspace into the ecosystem via HealthKit, allowing users to track sessions alongside other wellness metrics. In a major development reported in March 2025, Apple initiated Project Mulberry, an effort to revamp the app with an AI-powered health coach set for launch in spring 2026 alongside 19.4, aiming to provide personalized guidance on fitness, , and chronic condition management using aggregated device data. Overall, Apple's health initiatives prioritize preventive care by harnessing wearables like the for real-time monitoring and fostering an app ecosystem that encourages proactive behaviors, such as setting daily activity goals and receiving notifications for potential issues like . These efforts support broader goals of empowering users with actionable insights to improve long-term health outcomes, as outlined in Apple's 2022 Health Report. The company occasionally employs frameworks like CareKit in its studies to streamline care delivery.

References

  1. https://www.apple.com/health/
  2. https://support.apple.com/en-us/104997
  3. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/get-started-with-health-iphcae7451f3/ios
  4. https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/health-app/
  5. https://www.apple.com/health/pdf/Health_Privacy_Overview_May_2023.pdf
  6. https://allhealthtech.com/apple-healthtech-updates-2025/
  7. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-health/id1242545199
  8. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/06/02Apple-Releases-iOS-8-SDK-With-Over-4-000-New-APIs/
  9. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2014/09/09Apple-Announces-iOS-8-Available-September-17/
  10. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/09/ipados-17-is-now-available/
  11. https://www.apple.com/privacy/docs/Health_Privacy_White_Paper_May_2023.pdf
  12. https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/17/6348391/ios-8-healthkit-bug-prevents-launch-apple-says-fix-later-this-month
  13. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2014/09/26/apples-healthkit-finally-arrives-after-bugs-botches-and-boatloads-of-apple-hype/
  14. https://www.idownloadblog.com/2019/06/12/health-app-ios-13-overview/
  15. https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-cycle-tracking-app-ios-13-watchos-6-launch-2019-9
  16. https://tidbits.com/2019/08/05/a-look-at-the-health-app-in-ios-13/
  17. https://www.macrumors.com/2022/06/06/ios-16-watchos-9-medication-tracking/
  18. https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/06/22/how-ios-16-helps-you-track-manage-and-monitor-your-medication
  19. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/06/apple-provides-powerful-insights-into-new-areas-of-health/
  20. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/take-a-mental-health-assessment-ipha8d27408f/ios
  21. https://www.asurion.com/connect/tech-tips/ios-18-health-app-features-tt/
  22. https://support.apple.com/en-us/121161
  23. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/10/ai-apple-health-service-still-coming/
  24. https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/track-daily-activity-apd3bf6d85a6/watchos
  25. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/see-your-activity-summary-iph4c34a8a95/ios
  26. https://support.apple.com/en-us/120277
  27. https://support.apple.com/en-in/101952
  28. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/view-your-health-data-iphe3d379c32/ios
  29. https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/heart-rate-apda88aefe4c/watchos
  30. https://support.apple.com/en-us/120276
  31. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6226089/
  32. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf21/K212516.pdf
  33. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/12/ecg-app-and-irregular-heart-rhythm-notification-available-today-on-apple-watch/
  34. https://support.apple.com/en-us/120358
  35. https://support.apple.com/en-us/120031
  36. https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/inside-the-apple-watch-series-10s-new-sleep-apnea-detection-feature/
  37. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/03/apple-hearing-study-shares-new-insights-on-hearing-health/
  38. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/09/apple-introduces-groundbreaking-health-features/
  39. https://www.apple.com/health/pdf/Hearing_Health_Features_on_AirPods_Pro_2_October_2024.pdf
  40. https://support.apple.com/en-us/108896
  41. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/monitor-your-walking-steadiness-iphff1bf03ed/ios
  42. https://www.statnews.com/2021/07/15/apple-walking-steadiness-research/
  43. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/08/an-update-on-blood-oxygen-for-apple-watch-in-the-us/
  44. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/14/apple-releases-ios-18-6-1/
  45. https://support.apple.com/en-us/105072
  46. https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/set-up-and-view-medical-id-apd58cd0b3f4/watchos
  47. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/log-your-state-of-mind-iph6a6decb13/ios
  48. https://support.apple.com/en-us/105070
  49. https://support.apple.com/en-us/120356
  50. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/view-menstrual-cycle-predictions-and-history-iph1a4a00aa0/ios
  51. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/03/findings-from-apple-womens-health-study-advance-science-around-menstrual-cycles/
  52. https://support.apple.com/en-us/108906
  53. https://www.apple.com/healthcare/docs/site/Estimating_Sleep_Stages_from_Apple_Watch_Sept_2023.pdf
  54. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/myfitnesspal-calorie-counter/id341232718
  55. https://support.apple.com/en-us/105064
  56. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/track-your-medications-iph811670c81/ios
  57. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/learn-more-about-your-medications-iph2fcefa8d6/ios
  58. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/view-your-sleep-history-iph72b370881/ios
  59. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/01/apple-announces-effortless-solution-bringing-health-records-to-iPhone/
  60. https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/apple-launch-health-records-app-hl7s-fhir-specifications-12-hospitals
  61. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-patients-with-a-patient-online-services-account-can-now-access-health-records-on-iphone/
  62. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/07/how-apple-is-empowering-people-with-their-health-information/
  63. https://support.apple.com/en-us/108806
  64. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/download-health-records-iphc30019594/ios
  65. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/view-health-records-iph2b3a37ddd/ios
  66. https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/apple-health-records-goes-international-rollouts-five-uk-canadian-providers
  67. https://support.apple.com/en-us/108779
  68. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/hnej2zm/a/withings-bpm-connect-wi-fi-smart-blood-pressure-monitor
  69. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-smart-scales
  70. https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/216917527-Health-App-and-Strava
  71. https://fitstraps.co.uk/blogs/news/how-do-i-link-my-fitbit-to-apple-health
  72. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/18/apple-healthkit-bug-ios-8
  73. https://developer.apple.com/documentation/healthkit
  74. https://developer.apple.com/documentation/healthkit/data-types
  75. https://developer.apple.com/documentation/healthkit/protecting-user-privacy
  76. https://developer.apple.com/documentation/healthkit/reading-data-from-healthkit
  77. https://developer.apple.com/documentation/healthkit/executing-statistics-collection-queries
  78. https://developer.apple.com/documentation/healthkit/hkelectrocardiogram
  79. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2015/03/09Apple-Introduces-ResearchKit-Giving-Medical-Researchers-the-Tools-to-Revolutionize-Medical-Studies/
  80. https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/14/researchkit-share-the-journey/
  81. https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata201611
  82. https://www.researchandcare.org/publications/
  83. https://www.researchandcare.org/carekit/
  84. https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2021/10068/
  85. https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2024/10109/
  86. https://www.researchandcare.org/
  87. https://www.apple.com/privacy/docs/Health_Fitness_Apps_Privacy_September_2025.pdf
  88. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/share-your-health-data-iph5ede58c3d/ios
  89. https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/see-activity-and-health-reports-apd6b2bcdb19/watchos
  90. https://support.apple.com/en-us/111755
  91. https://www.apple.com/privacy/docs/Differential_Privacy_Overview.pdf
  92. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-10/apple-to-move-health-fitness-divisions-to-services-in-reorganization
  93. https://www.apple.com/careers/us/work-at-apple/teams/hardware.html
  94. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/17/what-every-tech-company-needs-a-cardiologist.html
  95. https://ucsfhealthcardiology.ucsf.edu/people/alexis-beatty
  96. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/30/apple-hires-cardiologist-david-tsay.html
  97. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-27/apple-hires-astrazeneca-chief-information-officer-smoley
  98. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/11/apple-heart-study-launches-to-identify-irregular-heart-rhythms/
  99. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2019/03/apple-heart-study-demonstrates-ability-of-wearable-technology.html
  100. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-024-01187-5
  101. https://support.apple.com/en-ca/108425
  102. https://help.headspace.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003793088-How-do-I-connect-Headspace-to-the-iOS-Health-App
  103. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-30/apple-readies-biggest-push-into-health-yet-with-revamped-app-ai-doctor-service-m8vl97k2
  104. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/pdfs/Health-Report-September-2022.pdf
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
Contribute something
User Avatar
No comments yet.