Apple Watch Series 8 Might Be Able to Tell If You Have a Fever

[Tagbert]

I just bought the Watch Series 7 for my mom. I’m still on my Series 3 and it does about everything I need. The ability to determine if you have a fever is a welcome addition. Not necessarily a reason to buy an Apple Watch. But if you are exposed to COVID and you are getting exposure alerts, this can help you make a smarter decision about what to do faster.

Overall, I feel like internally, the Apple Watch is starting to hit a brick wall. It’s understandable considering the space. They can’t make it any bigger either since it will start to look too abnormal. Creating newer sensors too seem to be a major challenge.

So many health measurements normally require more invasive techniques than a simple device strapped to your wrist can accomplish.

People are asking for blood sugar, but none of the proposed non-invasive methods are reliable enough to be useful. Blood pressure is another one where it can be very tricky to get a good reading.

A few months back I used a wrist-based blood pressure meter and got some super high readings. Freaked me out a bit. I contacted my doctor who laughed when I said I was using a wrist-based device. She told me to get a better, arm-cuff device otherwise the readings are worthless. I did and suddenly my BP was back to normal. Even with those, the conditions under which you measure are very specific. If you aren’t relaxed, sitting down, with your arm elevated, you are going to get some abnormal readings just because of external causes.

 

[Macalway]

My GOD there are people who object to even this?

 

[wigby]

@Apple
I get it, you invent the need to sell the product for it. Thing is, people already know when you have a fever.

This isn't a fever detector. It's an internal temp fluctuation sensor so it only detects sudden and subtle changes in body temp related to ovulation, menstruation and fevers that could indicate COVID and other viruses the body is fighting. Like any Apple Watch health metric, it's not definitive but rather a temporally based diagnostic tool meant to inform and possibly urge users to seek better diagnostics from approved medical devices and licensed medical professionals.

 

[Johnny907]

This is a weak consolation prize from a company that still can't manage to provide a feature AW owners actually want: accurate BP monitoring.

 

[Tagbert]

> the Apple Watch Series 8 is expected to maintain the same design as the Apple Watch Series 7

Wait, isn’t this the bigger news? Wasn’t it supposed to have a brand new design? Or is this referring to chip design or something?

What is more likely is a redesign of the Watch SE to make it easier to keep the price down.

The other design rumor is a rugged variant.

The main watch got a redesign last year and probably won’t change for another couple of years.

 

[Macalway]

So many health measurements normally require more invasive techniques than a simple device strapped to your wrist can accomplish.

People are asking for blood sugar, but none of the proposed non-invasive methods are reliable enough to be useful. Blood pressure is another one where it can be very tricky to get a good reading.

A few months back I used a wrist-based blood pressure meter and got some super high readings. Freaked me out a bit. I contacted my doctor who laughed when I said I was using a wrist-based device. She told me to get a better, arm-cuff device otherwise the readings are worthless. I did and suddenly my BP was back to normal. Even with those, the conditions under which you measure are very specific. If you aren’t relaxed, sitting down, with your arm elevated, you are going to get some abnormal readings just because of external causes.

Well.... It would need AI. That wrist thing was a rip-off apparently.

For instance, I have a new car with adaptive cruise control. It absolutely (knock on wood, btw LOL) needs AI to figure out what is going on otherwise it wouldn't work. Too many variables. And this is a good analogy as your life depends on it. (again, knock on wood. I'm very superstitious, especially about driving . Difficult even saying this)

 

[Tagbert]

This is a weak consolation prize from a company that still can't manage to provide a feature AW owners actually want: accurate BP monitoring.

Do you think it is possible to have “accurate” BP monitoring on a watch? If you’ve monitored your BP you would know that there are so many variables that can drastically affect the reading that just having a sensor on your wrist is the least important part of it.

 

[wigby]

I have come to the conclusion not to trust the Apple Watch when it comes to health metrics. I once had the AW alert me that I might being having a heart attack and wanted to know if it should call 911? The only problem was it was 6 hours after the fact and at the time I was moving around heavy equipment (which the AW said I wasn't doing anything strenuous 🙄). So I went into the settings and turned that feature off, I rather someone walk up to my dead body than have it call 911 that isn't a real emergency. 😂

Most doctors fail to diagnose heart issues in time because they don't have access to past data (same data you have chose to ignore). Not every product/feature is for everyone but for every 100 false triggers, Apple Watch probably delivers a justified warning to a handful of people who's lives can be saved because they've been warned and presumable took steps by visiting a licensed physician. I'd say that's a useful product with useful features.

 

[twarburg]

Taking temp on the arm ? Never had my doctor do that

 

[Alon1]

"(It sucks when you have to choose between a nice watch or your Apple Watch)."

This is exactly why I have not bought an Apple Watch. I have been wearing different Rolexes since 1973 and do not see myself changing, however, I do love Apple products!

Exactly so imagine if they came out with a bracelet that would pair nicely with a regular watch and gives you a similar functionality to the Apple Watch but without the big screen? I’d by it in a heartbeat.

 

[jz0309]

Taking temp on the arm ? Never had my doctor do that

so you prefer the old rectum method?

 

[DotCom2]

Apple Watch 6.2 …. I mean 8 …. isn’t a compelling upgrade for a lot of existing users. I know they are working on things like a blood glucose and/or blood sugar monitor and a blood pressure monitor but my understanding is those are years out if they’ll even be possible at all. Until then I’m not sure what they could add in to make the 6.x series (which is what the 7 and 8 really are) compelling enough to upgrade from the 6.

I agree. I'm going to wait and see what the 8 has and either get the 8 or just put a new battery in my 4 for $79.

 

[azentropy]

Yawn. I want to see significant battery and scratch/break resistance improvements. My AW5, which I charge daily overnight, goes to low power mode a few times a week and as I said in other posts looks worse after 2 years than my "inexpensive" Seiko watches I've worn for 25+ years with the scratches, chips etc. And I only have the AW5 because my AW4 shattered when dropped a couple of feet.

 

[TheLunaPark]

Blood glucose and blood pressure would be welcome additions to Apple Watch.

Yep I think these are the holy grail for the Apple Watch engineers. Hopefully one day.

 

[awawiwawa]

Instead of having all these sensors why not work on longer battery life

 

[polyphenol]

So many health measurements normally require more invasive techniques than a simple device strapped to your wrist can accomplish.

People are asking for blood sugar, but none of the proposed non-invasive methods are reliable enough to be useful. Blood pressure is another one where it can be very tricky to get a good reading.

A few months back I used a wrist-based blood pressure meter and got some super high readings. Freaked me out a bit. I contacted my doctor who laughed when I said I was using a wrist-based device. She told me to get a better, arm-cuff device otherwise the readings are worthless. I did and suddenly my BP was back to normal. Even with those, the conditions under which you measure are very specific. If you aren’t relaxed, sitting down, with your arm elevated, you are going to get some abnormal readings just because of external causes.

Don't speak - or allow yourself to be spoken to. At least sometimes, measure on alternate arms. Make sure the cuff is right size for your arms.

 

[ct2k7]

Instead of having all these sensors why not work on longer battery life

I don't think that'd be good enough for an event for it?

 

[OhIt'sHim]

What is more likely is a redesign of the Watch SE to make it easier to keep the price down.

The other design rumor is a rugged variant.

The main watch got a redesign last year and probably won’t change for another couple of years.

Perhaps it’s the reverse and the “flat” design is for the rugged edition and not the S8. A rugged edition would likely need some sort of different design anyway.

 

[assb10yr]

Cmon, Apple - blood sugar, blood pressure or go home...

Masimo Sues Apple for Stealing Trade Secrets for Health Monitoring Functions in Apple Watch

Masimo, a medical technology company that designs pulse oximetry devices, has filed a lawsuit against Apple accusing the Cupertino company of...

www.macrumors.com

 

[dj458]

I sure know early than Apple Watch!

 

[DotCom2]

I sure know early than Apple Watch!

Sometimes when you have a fever, you actually feel cold. It's strange thing. In any event, this feature is not a bad thing and I'm sure there is a way to turn it off if one desires. But people must complain and so it goes.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

Same processor as 6? Unless battery life is amazing, it looks like I’m holding out for the series 9 =/

 

[DrV]

so you prefer the old rectum method?

If you really want to know the core temperature, grab a jar of Vaseline, and …

All alternative methods (armpit, ear IR, forehead, forehead IR, under the tongue) have numerous error sources. Rectal measurement is the most reliable.

On the other hand, the absolute core temperature is usually not very interesting unless we are talking about severe hypothermia or hyperthermia. People have quite different baseline temperatures, and even if the baseline was known, knowing the body temperature is two or three degrees above baseline only tells something may be going on. Body temperature is neither sensitive nor specific as a diagnostic measurement.

 

[anshuvorty]

My goodness! A built in thermometer. Now I can be paranoid 24/7.

Thank you Apple!

So many possibilities. Blood pressure, DNA integrity scan.

LOL regarding that DNA integrity scan....do you know how many times our DNA is replicated in our cells on a daily basis? And...how many of those replication cycles lead to the creation of junk DNA that is just harmless and pose no threat?

It's quite fascinating really...

 

[coolfactor]

@Apple
I get it, you invent the need to sell the product for it. Thing is, people already know when you have a fever.

That's one perspective, but why is it so common for people to ask to someone else "Do I have a fever?", and that other person then checks them? So no, people don't automatically know when they have a fever.

Fun fact... in the Philippines, it's common lingo to say someone has a fever every time that they are sick, regardless of their body temperature.