The Apple Watch’s disparate suite of health features have warned countless users about potentially life-threatening issues over the years. This week, a new report published in the Interactive Journal of Medical Research sheds light on the different types of Apple Watch notifications that can signal a larger health issue.
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Apple explains in its support document that the Apple Watch’s “Cardio Fitness” feature is a measure of your VO2 max, which represents the maximum amount of oxygen your body can consume during exercise. You can view your Cardio Fitness data at any time in the Health app on your iPhone or iPad, but Apple Watch also proactively alerts you if your cardio fitness level is low for your age and gender via notifications.
As seen by MyHealthyApple, researchers at the Shackler School of Medicine in Tel-Aviv and the Leviev Heart Center in Israel published details of an exciting new Apple Watch story earlier this week. In this case, a healthy 40-year-old man started receiving repeated push notifications from their Apple Watch Series 6 about low VO2 max levels.
After receiving repeated push notifications, Apple Watch users went to Sheba Medical Center to seek further advice. A series of tests revealed a diagnosis of “familial nonischemic cardiomyopathy with markedly reduced left ventricular systolic function.”
MyHealthyApple explained that it usually takes “many years” for symptoms to appear, potentially highlighting the usefulness of the push notifications these people received on their Apple Watch.
Familial dilated cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle becomes thin and weak in at least one chamber of the heart, causing the open area of the chamber to enlarge (dilate).
As a result, the heart cannot pump blood as efficiently as it normally would. To compensate, the heart tries to increase the amount of blood pumped through it, causing further thinning and weakening of the heart muscle. Over time, this condition results in heart failure.
Patients undergo a comprehensive cardiac examination and their VO2 level will be continuously monitored through their Apple Watch.
A research paper published this week concludes that this case suggests that wearables like the Apple Watch have a role to play in monitoring broader VO2 trends. Data can point to “previous presentation in a diagnostic workflow” for certain conditions:
This case report highlights the potential utility of measurement of peak VO2 by a wearable device for the early identification and screening of cardiac fitness for the general population and those at high risk of cardiovascular disease. The integration of wearables into routine patient evaluations allows for earlier presentation in diagnostic workflows. Cardiac fitness can be measured sequentially using a wearable device, enabling close monitoring of functional capacity parameters. The device should be used with caution, and further study is needed.
MyHealthyApple However, cautions that this “could be a one-time case” and notes that most people can increase their VO2 “by increasing the intensity and frequency of their cardiovascular exercise.”
You can learn more about the Apple Watch’s Cardio Fitness and VO2 features in our full guide.
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