ArcaMax

Millions of you use a smartwatch or pedometer to keep track of how many steps you take in a day. The constant monitoring makes it easier to reach your activity goals -- and that steps up the health benefits (physical and emotional) you can get from moving more.

But there are two things to keep in mind.

-- Trackers may overestimate your step count and/or change accuracy (under- or over-counting steps) depending on your speed or the incline you're on. It's always smart to frequently check out your device by consciously counting your steps, say up to 300, and comparing that with the step count that your device logged.

-- You can sharpen your health tracking if you add a measure of your average daily heart rate to your step count.

A preliminary five-year study of 7,000 folks found that tracking your average daily heart rate (as recorded on your smartwatch for a month) and dividing it by your average daily step count (over a month) might give you a sharper idea of your fitness and your health risks for diabetes, heart attack or stroke than step count alone. The study found that low risk is 0.0081 or below. Medium is above 0.0081 but below 0.0147. High is 0.0147 or above. (Mine is 0.0051 -- not to brag, but just to say what is possible).

Give it a try. And for help stepping up your walking routine and improving your heart health, check out the AI step and step-equivalent coaching program at 4YOUngevity.com.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.

(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.