Apple Watch 6 could combat coronavirus with this new feature

Apple Lookout man 6 could gainsay coronavirus with this new feature

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Similar previous Apple Watches, the upcoming Apple Watch half dozen should come with a diverseness of health-tracking features that can save lives. Simply in the timely boxing confronting COVID-nineteen, an anticipated addition for Apple'southward upcoming wear could be a game-changing defence.

A pulse oximeter is designed to detect silent hypoxia, a life-threatening condition that has adamant the fate of many of the 2 1000000 coronavirus patients effectually the world. In an op-ed for The New York Times, emergency md Richard Leviathan says widespread pulse oximetry "could provide an early warning system for the kinds of breathing problems associated with Covid pneumonia."

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Dr. Leviathan believes recognizing silent hypoxia in its earliest stages volition go along more than patients off of ventilator machines. In fact, the dr., who traveled to New York City to volunteer his thirty years of experience in emergency medicine, says pulse oximetry saved the lives of at least 2 emergency physicians likewise working in the coronavirus hot spot.

Pulse oximetry requires the utilize of a special thermometer, which can exist purchased over the counter at pharmacies. When placed on a fingertip for a few seconds, a pulse oximeter tin read oxygen saturation and pulse rate. According to Dr. Leviathan, pulse oximeters are "extremely reliable" in identifying coronavirus warning signs like heightened heart rates and subtle oxygenation issues.

With such monitoring, Covid-19-related pneumonia or silent hypoxia can be recognized sooner. This could increase a patient's chances of avoiding ventilators, and help healthcare workers better form treatment plans for those who are ill.

So what does this have to do with Apple Watch 6?

As Phone Arena points out, Dr. Leviathan'south discovery ways the Apple Watch half-dozen could exist ultimate consumer applied science tool for early on detection of coronavirus or other severe forms of pneumonia.

In late March, nosotros saw a beta version of Watch Bone seven that revealed the side by side Apple Watch would finally get blood oxygen tracking this year.

Blood oxygen monitoring, also known equally SPO2 monitoring, measures the oxygen saturation level of your blood. A pulse oximeter would enable SPO2 monitoring in the Apple Spotter 6, letting users know when their claret oxygen falls beneath a certain concentration.

Though SPO2 monitoring is spotted in Watch OS seven, it'due south unclear whether older Apple tree Scout series already accept the necessary pulse oximetry hardware in identify, or if the feature volition be an Apple Watch 6 sectional.

Either way, it wouldn't be the beginning wearable with SPO2 — Garmin added blood oxygenation sensors to the Vivosmart lineup. But as noted in our Garmin Vivosmart 4 review, the SPO2 monitor is designed for recognizing breathing difficulties while you lot slumber, which could be a symptom of sleep apnea.

So the Apple Watch six getting SPO2 monitoring doesn't hateful we tin expect it to end coronavirus fatalities, or necessarily let people know earlier on that they could exist sick and should quarantine. Only it could exist a useful tool, should it debut with the new lookout man in the fall.

Kate Kozuch is a senior writer at Tom's Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-habitation related. When she'due south non in cyborg style, y'all can detect her on an practise wheel or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army will rule the earth one twenty-four hour period, but until and so, reach her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.