With the latest version of watchOS 7.2 and iOS 14.3 on the Apple Watch and iPhone, Apple has introduced a new Cardio Fitness feature that allows you to monitor your health in a more informative way.

If you think it's just a simple setting that displays your pulse rate during a workout, you're sorely mistaken. Cardio Fitness serves as an indicator of your overall health. It can also predict your long-term health and suggest ways to improve it.

With the latest update, Apple Watch users can now view their Cardio Fitness level and receive notifications when they fall into a low range.

According to Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, estimating low cardio fitness levels will allow users to "gain more insight into how to improve their long-term health through daily activity."

The American Heart Association also states that consistently low aerobic fitness levels may, in some cases, ultimately lead to greater health risks, including but not limited to heart disease, hypertension, and obesity.

Apple's Cardio Fitness classifies users as having "high," "above average," "below average," or "low" cardio fitness levels.

The new Cardio Fitness feature tracks users through a metric called VO2 max, which estimates the maximum amount of oxygen your body can consume. The latest update allows users to estimate VO2 max not only when they are doing a high-intensity workout, but also when they are simply walking.

watchOS 7 will allow those with an Apple Watch Series 3 or later to directly measure their VO2 max score. This is a feature available on many other fitness trackers and sports watches, so it is good to see VO2 Max on the Apple Watch.