Apple Watch now detects high blood pressure
The new watchOS 26 is finally here and brings with it an exciting, long-awaited feature: Apple has enabled high blood pressure notifications on compatible Apple Watch models in the US and many other countries.
The feature was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week and is now available on the release candidate versions watchOS 26 and iOS 26 is functional, just hours before the software updates are scheduled to be released to the general public.
Apple said the feature will be available in more than 150 countries and regions this month. However, it is subject to approval by the relevant authorities. Today, the company confirmed that it has received marketing authorization from “other global health authorities,” including the EU. There are also several success stories around the world, including countries such as the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. In Canada, however, they apparently have to wait a bit longer.
Apple Watch analyzes blood vessel behavior
According to Apple, the Apple Watch feature can alert users if signs of chronic high blood pressure/hypertension are detected. Based on data from the Apple Watch’s optical heart sensor, the feature analyzes how a user’s blood vessels respond to heartbeats. The algorithm works passively in the background, reviews data over 30 days, and notifies users if it detects persistent signs of high blood pressure.
Apple stated that the feature has undergone “rigorous scientific validation.” According to the company, it was developed using advanced machine learning and training data from multiple studies involving more than 100,000 participants. Its effectiveness was subsequently confirmed in a clinical study with more than 2,000 participants.
According to Apple, the feature is “not intended for use by individuals under the age of 22, those with diagnosed high blood pressure, or during pregnancy.”
