My readings seem inaccurate, what should I check?
If your heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen (SpO₂), steps or other readings look off, the cause is usually something simple to fix. Work through these checks before contacting us.
If you feel unwell: If you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting or a severe headache, contact a medical professional or emergency services straight away. Don't rely on your band's readings.
Step 1: Check how you're wearing your band
This is the most common cause of inaccurate readings.
- Is the band about one finger-width above your wrist bone, not on the bone itself?
- Is the sensor flat against your skin, not rotated to the side?
- Is it snug but comfortable? It shouldn't slide around when you move your wrist.
If any of these are off, adjust your band and take another reading. See How to Wear Your Band Correctly for the full guide.
Step 2: Were you still during the reading?
Movement is one of the biggest causes of reading errors, especially for blood pressure and blood oxygen.
- Sit or stand still during any spot measurement
- Rest your arm at heart level, around chest height
- Avoid talking or fidgeting
- Wait until the reading has finished before moving
Step 3: Is the sensor clean?
Sweat, lotion or residue on the sensor can affect readings.
- Wipe the sensor on the underside of your band with a soft, slightly damp cloth
- Clean the skin where the sensor sits, too
Step 4: Have you been wearing it consistently?
Your HLTH Band is designed to track trends over time, so patterns across days and weeks tell you more than any single reading. Give it at least a few days of consistent wear before judging your readings. For blood pressure, trends can take a few weeks of regular wear to settle.
Blood Pressure Readings
Blood pressure is the reading people ask about most, because it naturally changes throughout the day.
- Your band measures blood pressure using light-based sensors, which works differently from an arm cuff. Some difference between the two is expected. Differences of up to 10 mmHg can be normal.
- To compare with a cuff, take both readings at the same time, using One Key Measurement in the app. The hourly reading in the app may be up to 60 minutes old.
- Most differences come down to band position, a loose fit, or movement during the reading.
For step-by-step help, see our Blood Pressure Troubleshooting Guide. If your readings still differ a lot from your cuff after going through it, contact us and we'll look into it with you.
Heart Rate Readings
Your heart rate naturally changes throughout the day with activity, stress, temperature, caffeine and hydration. If a reading looks high or low, think about what you were doing at the time, and look at your daily trend in the app rather than individual readings.
Blood Oxygen (SpO₂) Readings
Short changes in blood oxygen are normal. They can be affected by sleep position, breathing, altitude, cold hands and activity. If your readings are regularly below 95%, speak to a healthcare professional.
See How Step Count and Stride Length Are Calculated for more detail.
A note on your readings
Your HLTH Band is designed for everyday wellness and trend tracking. It isn't intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. If you have any concerns about your health, speak to a healthcare professional.
Still Seeing Issues?
If you've been through all the steps above, email us at info@hlthtrack.com with:
- Which reading seems off
- How long you've had your band
- A photo showing how you're wearing your band