Picture this: Your phone isn't just a gadget—it's a guardian of your health, spotting early signs of serious issues before doctors even get a chance. But with great power comes great debate—especially when it comes to sharing intimate data with a tech giant. Dive in as we explore Apple's visionary approach to women's health and the privacy battles it sparks.
Meet Dr. Sumbul Desai, the Woman Steering Apple's Health Innovations
Written by Hanna Flanagan (https://www.thecut.com/author/hanna-flanagan/), a seasoned Cut Shop editor specializing in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle essentials that truly deliver value. Her background includes stints at Cosmopolitan and People.
Photo: Riva Ramos/Courtesy of Apple
When deciding on her professional journey, Dr. Sumbul Desai remembers her father limiting her choices to just two paths: medicine or engineering. As Apple's current Vice President of Health, she dabbled in both—she enrolled in a six-year medical program but pivoted to engineering after just one year—yet eventually gravitated toward media post-graduation. By her late 20s, with a solid career underway at ABC News, a deeply personal crisis redirected her back to medicine, this time driven by her own resolve. "I was in New York visiting my mom when she suffered a severe stroke, waking up with an excruciating headache and slipping into a coma before my eyes," Desai shares with The Cut. This happened in August 2001, and just a month later, she was moved from intensive care to rehab to accommodate those affected by the 9/11 tragedy.
"I stepped into the role of her primary caregiver, and her medical team advised me, 'You must champion her needs like no one else can. Unable to speak for herself, you need to arm yourself with knowledge to pose the right inquiries and ensure the optimal recovery.' That lesson resonated deeply," she explains. "I immersed myself in her care process, and through it, I rediscovered the profound impact medicine can have." At age 30, finally aligning with her true calling, Desai enrolled in medical school.
Among all the data Apple Health offers, which key indicators should women prioritizing long-term well-being and vitality focus on most?
Our cardio fitness tool serves as an excellent gauge of your general well-being and heart performance. Another metric I monitor closely is resting heart rate. But here's where it gets nuanced: Resting heart rates vary widely among individuals, so the real takeaway is to watch for significant shifts from your usual baseline. These changes could signal illness, extreme fatigue, or even dehydration. Personally, mine hovers in the low 50s, around 57 or 58, but after a lengthy flight, it reliably jumps to 62. Additionally, tracking whether you achieve 150 minutes of vigorous activity per week is crucial. Robust research demonstrates this routine can ward off heart problems and even support mental sharpness. Surprisingly, keeping tabs on your hearing health also plays a major role in preserving cognitive function and brain vitality over the years—many overlook this connection, but it's a game-changer.
For those experiencing menstrual cycles, the cycle-tracking feature holds special significance, varying by age and regularity. Heart disease and metabolic shifts often accelerate five years prior to menopause, marking a critical window. Monitoring cycle changes provides an opportunity to intensify efforts in heart health and overall wellness habits.
Apple is currently running an extensive, ongoing research initiative (https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/apple-womens-health-study) to deepen insights into menstruation and its ties to broader health. What standout discoveries have emerged so far?
We've observed that study participants are experiencing their first periods at younger ages, with cycles taking longer to stabilize. This trend stands out more prominently among non-Hispanic Black, Asian, and multiracial individuals, as well as those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. If we dig deeper, factors like diet and environmental influences might be at play, offering a window into how lifestyle shapes reproductive health.
Participants with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)—a common hormonal condition causing irregular periods, excess male hormones, and sometimes small ovarian cysts—face a fourfold increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia, which is the abnormal thickening of the uterus lining. With over 100,000 participants, about 16% report cycle irregularities, particularly those with PCOS. Cycles tend to shorten from May through December, while in other months, some see extended period durations, especially among younger individuals or PCOS sufferers. Lastly, those with inconsistent cycles often require more time to achieve regularity and have elevated risks of heart and metabolic issues. And this is the part most people miss: These patterns aren't just data points—they could signal broader health inequities, prompting us to ask how environmental and social factors intersect with personal well-being.
How do you address worries about handing over cycle-tracking information to Apple, particularly amid today's polarized political landscape?
We're immensely proud of the stringent privacy measures we've implemented across all health functionalities. Privacy isn't an add-on for us; it's foundational to every product we create, woven in from the very beginning.
Health information remains encrypted directly on your device, with no cloud-based processing involved. Our algorithms compute everything right there. When data backs up to the cloud, it's secured with end-to-end encryption, including mandatory two-factor authentication and a passcode. This ensures Apple itself can't view or retrieve it—even if subpoenaed, we lack access. Only you, the user, can decrypt and view the details on approved devices after logging in with your Apple ID. [Remarkably, all 133,000 participants in the Apple Women's Health Study have voluntarily joined by installing the Apple Research app (https://www.apple.com/ios/research-app/) and providing explicit consent.]
But here's where it gets controversial: In an era of heightened data surveillance and privacy scandals, is Apple's impenetrable encryption enough to quell fears? Critics argue that tech behemoths like Apple, despite their assurances, could face government pressures to compromise data in the future. Do you find this reassuring, or does it raise red flags about corporate giants controlling our most sensitive information? I'd love to hear your take in the comments—do you trust big tech with your health secrets?
Can you elaborate on Apple's latest hearing health tool?
Drawing from a seminal study (https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(20)30367-6/fulltext) published a few years back, protecting hearing emerges as the most controllable factor for preventing dementia and sustaining brain function. Untreated hearing loss disrupts the brain's connection to the environment, leading to rewiring that diminishes cognitive abilities over time.
I'm particularly enthusiastic about the Apple hearing test because we often neglect audition in adulthood—it's checked in childhood at pediatric visits and later in life, but the middle years get overlooked. By monitoring your hearing's progression and adopting aids early, you enable your brain to process all incoming signals effectively. Pair this with the loud noise protection in AirPods. Our research revealed that global noise levels are rising, so proactively safeguarding your ears when possible sets you up for better long-term outcomes. For beginners, think of it like regular eye check-ups: Catching issues sooner prevents bigger problems down the road.
Early detection is a cornerstone for your team—could you share a motivating real-life example?
We introduced the vitals feature more than a year ago, and a user emailed us about noticing abnormal readings compared to her norms. Two alerts from her Apple Watch prompted her to seek medical help, revealing early indicators of blood cancer. Timely intervention was possible thanks to that prompt action. My hope is that this inspires everyone to engage with their health data proactively, turning potential warnings into empowered decisions.
Apple's Health VP on Cycle Tracking and Data Protection
What do you think? Does empowering users with health data outweigh the privacy risks, or should we be more cautious? Is Apple's model a step forward or a slippery slope? Share your opinions below and let's discuss—agreement or disagreement welcomed!
