Apple Watch owners were surprised by the latest update that can predict illnesses even before symptoms begin.
The device has already been praised for its ability to identify heart problems and detect falls in older people.
However, the new Vitals app, available with the latest WatchOS 11 operating system, has been able to predict common illnesses such as flu and Covid.
The software analyzes heart rate, breathing rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen and sleep duration to monitor day-to-day health.
Users have now reported that their Apple Watch eerily detects subtle changes in their bodies and flags potential health problems.
The new features are part of the WatchOS 11 update, available on devices starting with Series 8, and were released in September.
Reddit user @DaleThomas81 was notified of three outliers that predicted he would be sick in the coming days.
Fitness fanatics have long used the device to control health trackers, but the new Vitals app provides a much greater amount of detail.
A Reddit user shared a screenshot of his Vitals data, which revealed that one key measurement (his wrist temperature) was higher than normal.
The app detected a spike on two consecutive days, triggering an alert.
A notification on the device warned the Reddit user that he was going to get sick.
On the third day, the Reddit user came down with the flu.
The user noted: ‘Today I woke up feeling bad. Now, as the night approaches, I begin to feel that old, familiar pain in my head. I’m sick.’
They weren’t the only Apple Watch users to notice the surprising new feature.
“I started using Vitals when it first came out and I’ve gotten sick about twice since then,” one user wrote on Reddit.
“Both times I knew a couple of days in advance and I didn’t feel anything bad.”
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Rory Evans said: ‘My Apple Watch picked up a few things on my vitals days before I tested positive for Covid!
“It’s a very smart technology and very useful, especially in such a fast-paced world.”
Users were surprised when they shared the news, as one commented: “I didn’t even realize the Apple Watch measures wrist temperature until I saw this post…”
A different user said they had the same experience: “Mine too, I’m still sick, but my watch noticed it before me.”
Users also noticed that the app identified unusual readings related to their vaccines before they started feeling side effects.
“My watch knew I wasn’t 100% after my COVID and flu vaccine as all three vitals (wrist temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate) were outliers and that’s how I knew I wasn’t 100%.” well, surprisingly,” said one Reddit user. .
Apple makes no claims that it can miraculously diagnose or treat medical conditions.
Instead, the company positions the app as a tool for users to get better context about their health.
Users can then choose to turn on notifications if their watch takes measurements outside of its normal range.
“When two or more metrics are outside their typical range, users can receive a notification, along with a message detailing how changes in these specific metrics may be related to other aspects of their life, such as elevation changes, energy consumption alcohol or even illness,” says an Apple spokesperson.
‘Vitals uses an algorithm developed from real-world data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, research that aims to advance the understanding of the links between heart health and physical activity.’