5 times the Apple Watch helped save a life

On the occasion of World Health Day, it is only but fair to reflect on the manner technology has had an impact on ensuring our health and well-being. Particularly, wearable tech. And when we talk of wearable tech, one device has particularly stood out over the years. The Apple Watch.

First launched in April 2015, the Apple Watch has consistently been heralded the world over for its advanced health tracking capabilities. You may be interested to know though, the Apple Watch’s abilities aren’t just limited to tracking your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, or sleep. Read on, as we delve in to five remarkable stories of how the Apple Watch has literally helped save people’s lives.

How the Apple Watch detected Atrial Fibrillation in a 35-year-old

A 35-year-old resident of Delhi, Sneha Saha began to experience an abnormally high pulse late in the evening on April 9. Drinking water and deep breathing techniques didn’t seem to help either, when she felt she may have been going through a stress induced panic attack. To be doubly sure, she strapped on her Apple Watch Series 7, which detected her irregular heartbeat and alerted her to visit a hospital immediately.

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Upon being checked, it was found that Saha had been suffering from Atrial Fibrillation, a condition wherein heartbeat becomes fast, but irregular. She was eventually given three direct current (DC) shocks of 50, 50 and 100 joules respectively, to restore her heart’s rhythm. Doctors said that had it not been for the Apple Watch, Saha may not have survived the ordeal.

How the impact detection feature on the Apple Watch saved Tony Jauncey's life

82-year-old Tony Janucey is a resident of Kidderminster, a small town near Birmingham. On the evening of January 19, Janucey was struck by a car at a roundabout, which was coming from the wrong side. As he was hit, Jauncey was flung through the air, and suffered a broken collarbone, several cracked ribs and bruising on his right leg.

Now, Jauncey had been recently given an Apple Watch as a Christmas present. Just as he landed, the watch immediately triggered a call to emergency services on 999, and paramedics were at the scene to rescue him in minutes. Due to the timely treatment, Jauncey recently returned home to his three grandchildren and two great grandchildren, hale and hearty. All because of his trusty Apple Watch.

How the blood oxygen monitor on the Apple Watch helped save a life

Dr. Rashid Riaz is a doctor in the Hereford County Hospital, England. On January 9, onboard a Ryanair flight to Verona, Italy, he encountered an elderly lady who suddenly became extremely short of breath.

When he learned that the woman had a history of heart disease, he borrowed a flight attendant’s Apple Watch to check for her oxygen saturation levels. On noticing that it was low, he revived her with the crew’s help, and with an oxygen cylinder, managed to stabilise her till they landed. On landing, the woman was immediately taken to a hospital where she was reported to have recovered fully.

How the Apple Watch helped detect a pulmonary embolism in Kimmie Watkins

In June 2023, 29-year-old Kimmie Watkins had just settled down for a nap. She’d been complaining of feeling a little light-headed and dizzy, which she assumed was due to the lack of proper meals that day. After about an hour and a half though, her Apple Watch alerted her and woke her up, indicating that her heart rate had been abnormally high for over 10 minutes.

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Watkins immediately visited the hospital, where cardiologists found that her heart rate had peaked at about 179 beats per minute, typically achieved only by athletes during high intensity training. She was diagnosed with a saddle pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening blood clot in the lungs, which saddles them across the left and the right. The survival rate for this condition, if not caught in time, is only about 50 per cent. She immediately went through with emergency surgery, which helped her survive.

How the heart rate monitor on the Apple Watch helped detect cancer in a 12-year old

The heart rate monitoring feature on 12-year-old Imani Miles’ Apple Watch Series 7 helped save her from an extremely close shave with death. Back in October 2021, it was just another night for her and her mother, Jessica Kitchen, both residents of the Queens borough, New York City.  However, Kitchen suddenly noticed the constant beeps on Imani’s Apple Watch, which alerted her of a high heart rate.

Concerned, Kitchen took her daughter to the hospital, where it was found that Imani was suffering from appendicitis. What’s more, doctors also found a neuroendocrine tumor on her appendix during the surgery, a condition seldom seen in children her age. The tumor was later found to be cancerous, and it turned out the cancer had already spread to other parts of her body as well. Miles was quickly put through another surgery to remove the cancer, and made a full recovery as well. All because her Apple Watch alerted her of an abnormal heart rate, well in time.

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These five stories are testament to the fact that the wearable from the iPhone maker is much more than a mere accessory, or a fitness tracker. The wearable from Apple may not exactly be a substitute for specialised medical equipment. But it can go a long way in ensuring your health and well-being, notifying you of any potentially fatal conditions you may be suffering from, well in time.