Your Apple Watch may soon be able to warn you of a coming stroke

A new study from the University of California, San Francisco and a health startup suggests that Apple Watch and Fitbit can accurately diagnose common health issues such as hypertension and sleep apnea. (Apple Inc.)

A device that’s embedded in a new wristband for the Apple Watch marries two existing features – the heart rate monitor and activity sensors – and takes them to a new level using artificial intelligence. 

The KardiaBand from AliveCor uses a neural network to predict and analyse the wearer’s heart rate based on his or her history and a trove of cardiovascular data from both sick and healthy people. The device measures the heart rate every five seconds and tells users when it’s out of their expected range. It doesn’t apply a generic range-instead, it determines what’s abnormal for you.