Every Decision Is a Health Decision: How We’re Helping People’s Wellbeing Through Intentional Health Technology Innovation

I’ve spent years witnessing technology change the way people live their lives. The way we work, connect and make decisions is entirely different from a generation ago; but until recently, eating routines, movement, and rest have largely been unchanged.

Technology today, in particular the rise of wearables, is now helping us also become aware of our health and track many elements of it. Everything from when to sleep and exercise and even what to eat. We’re at the dawn of truly predictive, personalised health intelligence.

This seismic shift is where every mouthful of food, every step taken, every wink of sleep is not just a mundane choice, but an act of self-care. Where technology moves from passive companion to active guardian – anticipating our needs and nudging us towards our goals.

What’s more, younger generations are running away from unhealthy choices. Recent data suggests run clubs have seen a 59% increase in global participation in 2024^[1], with people making friendships, and one in five of them resulting in a date. Health technology is not a passing fad or trend but something that is accelerating every day and making a real difference to people’s well-being.

This week, at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, we announced new Samsung Health features^[2] to help improve sleep, heart health, fitness, and nutrition. These new features are designed to help empower our consumers to lead healthier lives through proactive care and holistic health management.

My colleague Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience,  talks about how sleep is the cornerstone of our approach to health, as it influences physical and mental well-being, social relationships, and even work performance.

Picture waking up, like many of us do, and checking your watch or ring. Instead of telling you how you slept, it guides your next choices by telling you “here’s why you slept well, and here’s what to do next”, or flagging any potential sleep issues.

The next frontier is preventative health, where technology doesn’t just monitor our wellbeing, it helps shape it. It’s happening all around us now, thanks to a seismic cultural shift which at Samsung, we are adapting to quickly.

A groundbreaking new Galaxy Watch feature we announced this week will measure vascular load^[3], the amount of stress on your vascular system while sleeping. The vascular system carries blood throughout the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove waste, making it a strong indicator to determine good heart health.

I also spoke this week about our new Antioxidant Index^[4] – an industry first feature to measure carotenoids. Antioxidants are the nutrients found in many healthy foods, which help prevent chronic illnesses and promote healthy ageing. Importantly, antioxidants neutralise free radicals, which damage cells and accelerate aging. Behavioural factors, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, UV exposure, stress and lack of sleep, can accelerate aging by increasing free radicals in the body.

You will be able to use your Galaxy Watch and its advanced, light-activated BioActive sensor to measure carotenoids in just five seconds, which are antioxidants found in green and orange vegetables and fruits, stored in your skin.

You’ll quickly see how these insights reflect behavioural changes. For example, drinking carrot juice can show changes in the index. This transforms abstract nutrition into measurable outcomes that drive sustained healthy behaviours.

So, as we look ahead to the future of health tech, one thing is becoming undeniably clear: health will become the filter through which we make every choice. Not just the big decisions, like how we treat illness or manage fitness, but the small, everyday ones. What we watch. What we eat. What we buy. Because soon, the data will be right there with us, moment by moment, guiding us toward what our bodies and minds actually need.

And in that world, brands will have a new kind of responsibility. It won’t be enough to be relevant by trend or preference. Brands will need to prove their role in supporting people’s well-being—in showing how they truly fit into a better, healthier life.

That’s where we’re headed. We will continue to be more intentional with our health tech innovation. It will be deeply human focused, rooted in biology, mood, need, and real-time context.

At Samsung, we’re not just creating products that cut through the noise. We’re creating technology that cares. Because in the end, the greatest innovation isn’t in what we build, but in how we help people truly thrive.

Annika Bizon, Mobile Experience VP of Product & Marketing, Samsung UK&I.

[1]https://press.strava.com/articles/strava-releases-annual-year-in-sport-trend

[2]Health features are intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice. Samsung account login required. Vascular Load, Running Coach and Antioxidant Index are available on Android phones (Android 10 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app (v6.30.2 or later). Vascular Load and Antioxidant index are Labs features that you can preview before its official launch. If you don’t want to use these experimental features, you can turn them off in Samsung Health settings.

[3]Vascular Load is available on Android phones (Android 10 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app (V6.30 or above). Samsung account login is required. To measure vascular load, it is required to wear Galaxy Watch (Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch8 and later release Galaxy Watch series) when sleeping for at least 3 days out of recent 14 days. Vascular load monitoring is for fitness and wellness only. If you have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or are recovering from surgery, be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or diseases. This is a Labs feature that you can preview before its official launch. If you don’t want to use this feature, you can turn if off in Samsung Health settings.

[4]To measure, place the centre of your finger on the sensor at the back of the Watch and hold it for 5 seconds. While Anti-oxidant index can be measured using any finger, the thumb is recommended for most accurate result. Repeat measurement if there is uneven placement of finger. Requires Samsung Account login and Samsung Health app 6.27 or later. Available on devices with Android OS 10 (Q OS) or later. AGEs is supported in Samsung Galaxy Watch7 and later released Samsung Galaxy Watch models only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition. Anti-oxidant monitoring is for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.