Rumor Claims watchOS 7 Will Have 'Mental Health Capabilities' to Detect Panic Attacks

MacRumors said:
The next-generation version of the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 6, has been rumored to include a blood oxygen sensor, which Prosser says Apple will take advantage of to implement new mental health-related features, such as detecting panic attacks.
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I wonder what happens if your Watch diagnoses a close friend as psychotic ? Maybe with Continuity ( TM ) your iPhone will display this :

Screen Shot 2020-05-09 at 4.26.15 PM.png
 
I would love this capability and hope it's true. I have suffered from panic attacks for years and once landed in the emergency room because they thought it could be a heart attack. The symptoms, if the attack is severe enough, closely mimic it. So having this to confirm it's just another attack is enough to snap me out of worry that it may be something more severe.

I have a pulse oximeter that I'll fire up if one hits me while home and that helps. Having it on a watch would make it a lot more practical. Would love to see this happen.
 
Im sure this will be another feature like ECG etc that isnt enabled on the watch here in Australia. We pay more for less.
Even when we have a Apple Watch 6 is released, its basically no different to Apple Watch 3 for us.
 
AussieStu said:
Im sure this will be another feature like ECG etc that isnt enabled on the watch here in Australia. We pay more for less.
Even when we have a Apple Watch 6 is released, its basically no different to Apple Watch 3 for us.
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Sorry, what? You still get tons of new features like the Always-On Display.
 
AussieStu said:
Im sure this will be another feature like ECG etc that isnt enabled on the watch here in Australia. We pay more for less.
Even when we have a Apple Watch 6 is released, its basically no different to Apple Watch 3 for us.
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This.

As much as I love how Apple Watch is becoming, most of its health features ended up being US only (and maybe Canada/UK). Many countries don't even get the irregular heart beat detection, let alone ECG and other stuff. It's unfortunate, although I understand the regulatory issues.
 
I'm glad to see this. It's been ignored for decades but mental wellbeing is just as important as physical fitness.

I hope that Apple recognizes this fully by adding another "ring" to the Apple Watch activity rings. A green dot at the centre, representing the Breath app. Having a 5-10 minute break in your day to breath and meditate can be really transformational for your overall health.

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The Breath app itself is overdue for an update. It does what it does well, but it could use a few meditation options like a guided body scan and walking meditations.
 
finisterre said:
Blood oxygen monitoring is useful for diagnosing Covid-19. Many of those infected have decreasing blood oxygen levels and don't know it until too late.

Also good for diagnosing sleep apnea.

I'll get one if it has this.
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This is correct. So, you would think that if, as rumoured, current Apple Watches out in use were capable of measuring blood oxygen that Apple would've released an emergency update to at least measure changes in the blood, if not accurate number readings, prompting the user to examine other possible COVID-19 symptoms.

It's very likely that the pulse oximeter function and related features will be exclusive to the new Series 6.
 
Saturnine said:
Due to health issues I mentioned on another thread, I’m really hoping for a blood oxygen monitor. You can derive a lot from having that information.

I’m (perhaps stupidly) holding off on buying a standalone blood oxygen monitor in the hope the next revision of the Apple Watch has one built in.
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Same situation here. I was just about to buy one. now I'm holding off until the fall to see. If not unveiled I'll buy either Series 5 or 6.
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Mr. Dee said:
I think its a good feature. Today, I was assisting a customer over the phone and they snapped at me I should stop interrupting them. Immediately my head started to tighten, I could feel my heart race and my breathing decreased. When I finished the call, I was so livid from the customers behaviour. Then I felt the vibration on my risk, it said 'take a moment to relax and breathe to reduce stress'. I was so amazed and impressed that it actually felt my emotions. Thats exactly what I did to bring back some peace and calm and I was able focus on the next call with no issue.
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It is so clear there are so many beneficial outcomes if the next Apple Watch this Fall, has these features!
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iansilv said:
This would be great- after Siri could open maps and direct you to a safe space!
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Very true! I think speculation is e.g. if you are driving it will recommend you pull over and provide exercises to calm you down to avoid any car crashes, putting yourself, and others at risk. Perhaps, if you are right, it would be AMAZING if Siri could open Maps to help too.
 
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jclo said:
If it could accurately measure blood oxygen levels up to Apple's standards, why wouldn't it have been included as a previous feature given the health value of that kind of capability? Could be that it's not accurate enough in older sensors, or there's been an FDA restriction. Either way, I don't know enough to say confidently which Apple Watch models will get that support.
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Yes, it would not be accurate. This Wirecutter article gives a high-level review about what's on the market today and why, even the expensive ones just aren't that accurate: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/coronavirus-pulse-oximeter/

Apple is currently relying on the surface of your wrist. Even though this method using light isn't the best, it should ideally be done when you have the light pass through (e.g. tip of a finger). So measuring a round-trip bounce off the wrist is going to be even lower fidelity than than a straight shot through. Again, even if we had a little finger clip, that still doesn't compare to what you'd get in the hospital if this was actually important to measure.

Lastly... and then I'll just let people click through the link above, an interesting point was that it's not really a useful data point. Even where you think it could be its most useful – keeping an eye on someone diagnosed with COVID-19 – it's just a fuzzy estimate. Then in all the other times you don't have a terrible respiratory condition, it's extra-pointless. At least HR or BP could reflect your fitness progress for example.

Haha I sound like I'm against updates such as this, but to be totally honest I'm a sucker for quantified self and would enjoy seeing this blood ox measurement in my watch. I just want to help other people be aware that it's not gonna be super accurate and most definitely not reliable.
 
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