A watch can now predict your stress levels

Tech giant Apple is always one step ahead of others when it comes to state-of-the-art technological features in its in-house products. For instance, the company had introduced an electrical heart rate sensor alongside an ECG app in its Apple Watch Series 4. The speciality of the feature was recording one’s heartbeat and rhythm and then measuring the recording for atrial fibrillation or AFib, a kind of irregular cardiac rhythm. Currently, this feature is available on Series 4 to Series 8 as well as the Series Ultra.  

With this in mind, recently, a team of researchers based in Canada’s University of Waterloo conducted a study that concluded that the Apple Watch’s ECG sensor data has the potential to become a powerful and accurate stress prediction tool.  

Turns out, the ECG sensor in Apple Watch Series 6 revealed a strong correlation between the ECG data of a person (both cardiac acceleration and deceleration capacity) and his stress levels at that point of time when the measurements were taken.  

Now, the researchers are certain that using this data and combining it with machine learning algorithms, a reliable and effective stress prediction instrument can be developed. The added benefit is that while the stress model will have an advanced level of precision, it won’t record any data for a long span. This implies that there will be no case of duplicity using past data.  

Apart from predicting stress, the Apple Watch will also offer additional benefits such as sleep and activity data, that in turn can act as mental health care. How? By delivering services such as breathing exercises to counter stress and reacting promptly to mood shifts.  

If you are an owner of the latest models of Apple Watch, you need to follow these steps to take an ECG. At first you wear the watch well attached to your skin and make sure it is snug. Next, open the ECG app and rest your hand on your lap or a table. Using the other hand, tap on the Digital Crown. It starts recording and takes 30 seconds at the most. At the end of it, you will see a classification column where you can add symptoms from a dropdown menu. Once selected, click on “Save” and finally “Done.”  

Interestingly, Apple has recently joined hands with the luxury brand Hermes to launch customisable versions of the Apple Watch.