Google unveiled Health Guardian with the Pixel Watch 5, adding features that the company said can track blood pressure trends, insulin resistance and breathing-related emergencies.
Blood Pressure and Insulin Trends will be available this fall on the Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5, as well as the Fitbit Air, while breathing detection will work on the Pixel Watch 4 and 5.
Google said its blood pressure tool analyzes pulse and motion patterns through a proprietary algorithm and provides users with one monthly data point on the first day of each month. The feature also offers AI-generated recommendations based on the trend.
The company said its breathing emergency feature is designed to detect what it called “breathing-related emergencies” that cause a “critical drop in oxygen saturation.” If blood oxygen falls to a dangerous level, the opt-in system can contact emergency services and designated contacts.
Video: Google
The watch will first try to alert the user with vibration and a full-screen notification. It then issues an audible warning and a 30-second countdown before placing a call if the alert is not dismissed.
Google said the breathing feature uses an AI-based algorithm that monitors heart rate, motion and altitude data. The company said it includes safeguards intended to avoid false alarms, including cases such as a user falling asleep with sleep apnea.
Google also said Health Guardian can estimate insulin resistance from the wrist by tracking heart rhythm, sleep quality and activity levels through an AI model. Users receive a monthly score and tips aimed at improving the result.
The company said the features are not a substitute for diagnostic tools and do not provide clinical advice.
Google has been testing this area through the WEAR-ME study with Quest Diagnostics. In that study, participants wore a Fitbit or Pixel Watch, and wearable data including resting heart rate, step count and sleep patterns was compared with Quest’s in-person blood test results.
Google’s team published a paper in Nature in March 2026 that showed the possibility of using wearable data to identify insulin resistance early.
Breathing detection is already available in several European countries. The feature has not been cleared or evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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