Apple’s Vitals App Is Warning Users of Symptoms Before They Actually Fall Sick

Oct. 7, 2024

Several Reddit usersare discussing how the new Vitals app in watchOS 11 is showing signs of sickness before they actually feel any symptoms. The app keeps a close eye on your vitals and detects in advance that you’re about to fall sick. That means the app will know you’re going to fall sick before you actually do. Impressive, isn’t it?The vitals app knew I was sick 3 days before I didbyu/dalethomas81inAppleWatch

One Reddit user stated that he started using the Vitals app when it was in beta. He had fallen sick twice and both times, the Vitals app knew a few days in advance, whereas he didn’t feel anything wrong. When outliers were detected, the app sent him a notification. Another user said that his Vitals app was saying high temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate, but he didn’t care as he was feeling fine. After two days, he started getting a cough at night and woke up with a sore throat.

He then went to urgent care and tested positive for strep throat (a bacterial infection). Several users also joined in the conversation and shared similar experiences where their Apple Watch was able to identify illnesses and recognize that something was off. This is impressive and super useful.

It’s incredible to see how technology has evolved to predict health patterns. Many users are already saying the Vitals app is their new favorite Apple Watch feature, and it totally deserves this appreciation. It’s damn clever how the app can identify the mild and early signs of sickness. When you know about your sick days beforehand, you take the best precautions to limit the sickness or even prevent it in some cases. Also, you have the time to cancel or postpone your plans, which is otherwise another headache.

Apple’s Vitals App Compatibility

The new Vitals app isn’t exclusive to thelatest Apple Watch Series 10and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models. It’s available on any Apple Watch running watchOS 11. Here’s a list ofwatchOS 11 supported Apple Watch models:

To update your compatible models to watchOS 11, you will also need at least an iPhone 11 running onthe latest iOS 18.

It’s worth knowing that since the Vitals app measures data while you’re asleep, you have toenable Sleep Tracking on your Apple Watch. Otherwise, the app won’t work for you. Once you’ve enabled sleep tracking, the app needs at least one week to gather important data and give you insights. To view your overnight vitals for the last 7 days, go to theVitals app, tap onOvernight Vitals,and tap on the calendar-like icon from the top-left corner. You can also view the vitals on the Health app on your iPhone. For this, open the Health app, tap onBrowse -> Vitals,and tap on a health metric to learn more.

By default, the app sends you notifications when two or more of your overnight metrics are outside the typical range. To make sure you haven’t turned off this feature, go toSettings -> Vitalsand turn onNotificationson your Apple Watch.

Have you installed the latest watchOS 11? Did you find the Vitals app useful? Don’t forget to share your experiences in the comments below.