TL;DR
Apple Health on iPhone collects data from Apple Watch, third-party wearables and medical records to give a single view of health metrics. The app includes tools to prioritize data sources, rearrange what you see, share selected summaries, and surface trends and highlights.
What happened
The Apple Health app serves as a central repository for health and fitness data on iPhone, aggregating information from Apple Watch, third-party trackers, smart scales, blood pressure monitors and medical records where supported. The app logs standard watch metrics such as steps and heart rate and can display longer-term trends and historical data that the Fitness app does not emphasize. Users can link supported medical record systems (many MyChart-enabled providers are listed where available) to import lab results, allergies, immunizations and procedures. The app also offers controls to rearrange the home layout by pinning preferred metrics, and to manage which apps and devices can read or write specific data types. Apple Health surfaces automated Trends and Highlights, and includes a Sharing section for selectively sharing encrypted summaries with people or clinicians. The Medical ID feature can be configured for access during emergencies.
Why it matters
- Consolidates multiple device and app metrics in one place, simplifying health tracking and review.
- Prioritizing data sources helps avoid conflicting entries and improves the accuracy of recorded metrics.
- Importing medical records into the app can place clinical data alongside daily vitals for richer context.
- Selective sharing and Medical ID settings let users control who sees health information and what is shared.
Key facts
- Apple Health logs Apple Watch data such as steps, heart rate and resting heart rate for historical and trend analysis.
- Third-party wearables and rings mentioned include WHOOP, Oura Ring and Ultrahuman Ring; many integrate with Apple Health.
- Examples of compatible accessories cited: Withings BPM Connect and OMRON Evolv for blood pressure; Withings Body Smart Scale and Withings Body Scan; Wyze Scale Ultra and Wyze Smart Scale X Butterfly as budget scale options.
- Apple Health supports additional devices such as smart thermometers, sleep trackers and glucose monitors, per the source.
- To add medical records: open Health, tap your profile, select 'Medical Records' and connect an account; availability varies by provider and many MyChart-integrated organizations appear as options.
- To rearrange the app layout: open Health, tap 'Edit' in the upper-right and drag metrics to pin and reorder them.
- To manage app permissions: open Health, tap your profile, choose 'Apps' for granular read/write controls; for a metric, choose 'Data Sources & Access' then 'Edit' to prioritize sources.
- Trends and Highlights are generated automatically to show changes like increased average steps or fewer steps than usual so far today.
- The Sharing tab permits selective sharing of health data with people or clinicians; the app shares encrypted summaries rather than raw full-detail records.
- Medical ID can be configured from your profile to include age, allergies, medications, height, weight and to show on the lock screen or during emergency calls.
What to watch next
- Continued expansion of provider support for medical records integration — not confirmed in the source
- Broader device compatibility or new biometric metrics becoming available in Health — not confirmed in the source
- Any iOS or Health app updates that change how Trends, Highlights or sharing work — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Apple Health: An iPhone app that aggregates health and fitness data from Apple devices, third-party apps and compatible accessories.
- Medical ID: A profile within Apple Health that stores emergency and medical details and can be made available from the lock screen or during emergency calls.
- Data Sources & Access: Apple Health settings that let users control which apps and devices can read or write specific types of health data and to prioritize sources.
- Trends and Highlights: Automated Apple Health features that identify longer-term changes in metrics (Trends) and recent snapshots or progress updates (Highlights).
Reader FAQ
How do I import medical records into Apple Health?
Open the Health app, tap your profile, choose 'Medical Records' and connect an account; availability depends on your doctor or hospital.
Can I control which apps write data to Health?
Yes. From the Health app profile choose 'Apps' for granular read/write permissions, and use 'Data Sources & Access' on individual metrics to prioritize sources.
Does Apple Health work with third-party devices like smart scales and blood-pressure monitors?
Yes. The app integrates with a range of accessories; the article cites Withings, OMRON and Wyze examples among others.
Will my shared health data include all details?
The source says shared items are encrypted and presented as summaries rather than full raw records.
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Sources
- Apple Health is more powerful than you think, here are my top tips
- iOS 26 Fitness App Gets AI Coach & Manual Workout Logging
- Power up your Apple Watch for 2026 with these essential tips
- 7 Apple Health tips and tricks to get you fighting fit
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