The first thing that Yang Weina, a white-collar worker in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, does every day after waking up is to check the sleep score on her smartwatch.

"Probably because I have been working late night shifts in recent weeks, I have consistently been getting low scores of around 75 to 85 out of 100," said the 32-year-old. "The score explains how I feel during the day — my heart races at times, and I feel a bit woozy, especially in the afternoons. So I'm considering taking melatonin or visiting a sleep clinic."

Yang also finds her smartwatch's heart rate monitor especially useful. "When I'm facing a deadline, my heartbeat sometimes races to more than 120 beats per minute. When I see that number on the watch, I tell myself to calm down. I step away from my desk, take a few deep breaths and look out the window for a few minutes."

The rise of wearable technology and artificial intelligence has made it easier for increasingly health-conscious young people to gather information about their bodies and access health advice, fueling a new trend that some netizens have dubbed "cyber wellness".

Lin Yiran, 28, told Beijing Daily that every morning she takes a photo of her tongue and sends it to an AI medical diagnosis platform to assess her physical condition. In traditional Chinese medicine, the tongue is believed to reflect several aspects of overall health.

Lin said that she brews barley water if the AI report suggests a thick, greasy coating indicating dampness, and drinks rose tea if it suggests liver qi stagnation — a TCM concept that is linked to emotional imbalance.

Doctors noted that such tools can be helpful for basic monitoring, but should not replace medical diagnosis.

Zhang Jin, director of the disease prevention center at Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, said that digital tools can offer early health alerts.

"Many people don't have time to see a doctor," Zhang said. "Using apps and self-study to get an early, basic read about one's condition can help catch problems early."

She said that simple daily checks such as sleep, weight and basic physical parameters can help track health. "We often see young people whose tongues clearly reflect high stress," she said. "Catching those early signs can prevent symptoms from worsening."

However, Zhang warned against relying on digital tools for diagnosis. "You can't make a diagnosis based on a tongue image alone," she said.

Jiang Quan, director of rheumatology at Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, also supported the use of smart devices for tracking one's health.

She noted that it reflects growing awareness of preventive care among young people.

Jiang said that data from wearables can help people understand how lifestyle habits — such as keeping late hours, stress-inducing routines and prolonged sitting — affect their bodies.

But she also urged caution. "An occasional high heart rate or slight dip in blood oxygen is often linked to sitting too long, tension, recent meals, anxiety or staying up late, not necessarily a serious illness," she said.

"Repeatedly checking the same parameters can lead to anxiety and insomnia," Jiang added. "That can end up draining your energy and upsetting your physical and mental balance."

Data from smartwatches and health apps should be treated as early warnings, not diagnoses. "If you feel unwell or see abnormal readings, go to a hospital for a proper examination," she said.

Guo Yuhe contributed to this story.

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn