Apple Watch Users Report Vitals App Detecting Illness Before Symptoms
In a significant development for health monitoring technology, users of the Apple Watch are reporting that the new Vitals app, introduced with watchOS 11, is capable of detecting potential illnesses several days before symptoms manifest.
How the Vitals App Works
The Vitals app, available on Apple Watch Series 8 and newer models, including the Apple Watch Ultra series, analyzes key health metrics during sleep over the last seven days. These metrics include heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and historically, blood oxygen levels, although the latter is no longer available on Apple Watch units sold in the United States after January 18, 2024, due to a legal ruling related to Masimo's pulse oximetry patents.
The app establishes a typical range for each user's health metrics over time and sends notifications if multiple metrics fall outside this range. Factors such as medications, elevation changes, alcohol intake, or illness can impact these metrics, and the app provides context for these potential influences.
User Experiences
Several users have shared their experiences on Reddit, highlighting the app's ability to predict illness. One user, RCG21, reported that since using the Vitals app in its beta phase, it has accurately detected illness a couple of days in advance on two separate occasions, even when the user felt no symptoms.
Another user, dalethomas81, shared a screenshot showing multiple metrics falling outside the typical range days before they started feeling ill. The user woke up feeling off and later developed symptoms consistent with an illness, such as a cough and sore throat, which were later confirmed as strep throat.
Users have also reported that the app detected outliers associated with vaccines before they experienced any symptoms. For instance, a user named TizianosBoy mentioned that after receiving COVID and flu vaccinations, the app showed outliers in wrist temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate, indicating that the user was not feeling well before any symptoms appeared.
Compatibility and Usage
The Vitals app is compatible with a range of Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 10, Series 9, Series 8, Series 7, Series 6, Series 5, and the Apple Watch SE (1st and 2nd generations), provided they are running watchOS 11. Users also need an iPhone 11 or later running the latest iOS to update their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.
To use the Vitals app, users must enable Sleep Tracking on their Apple Watch, as the app measures data during sleep. It requires at least one week of data collection to establish a typical range for each metric. Users can view their overnight vitals for the last seven days by opening the Vitals app, tapping on Overnight Vitals, and then tapping the calendar-like icon in the top-left corner. The data can also be viewed in the Health app on iPhone or iPad.
Notifications and Settings
By default, the app sends notifications when two or more overnight metrics are outside the typical range. Users can ensure these notifications are enabled by going to the Settings app on their Apple Watch, then tapping Vitals and turning on Notifications.
Important Notes
While the Vitals app has shown promising results in detecting illness early, Apple emphasizes that the app is not intended for medical use and should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Users are advised to consult their healthcare provider before making any decisions related to their health based on the app's data.