Apple Watch got a tool to detect hypertension
By ForGeeks
Apple’s new hypertension detection tool has been approved by the FDA and is ready to launch. The feature will be available to owners of the Apple Watch Series 11, Ultra 3, and previous Series 10, Series 9, and Ultra 2 models. The only exception will be the Apple Watch SE 3.
The technology will be available starting next week in 150 countries and regions, including the U.S. and the European Union, Bloomberg reports.
How the feature works
The tool is built into watchOS 26, which is scheduled for release on Monday, September 15. Users won’t need to take any action after the update. An optical heart rate sensor in the background analyzes the data and detects signs of hypertension — a condition in which blood pressure remains consistently elevated.
When signs of hypertension are detected, the watch will send a notification advising you to share the results with your doctor.
According to Apple, hypertension — is a major modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. The condition affects about 1.3 billion adults worldwide, and the disease often goes undetected due to a lack of overt symptoms.
Apple says hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
Why it matters
Apple notes that having such a feature on the watch could be a game changer: users will be able to bring attention to the problem in time to engage a doctor, even if hypertension has not previously been diagnosed.
Developers emphasize that this is one of those features that you’d rather never see in action. But when an alert is triggered, it could literally save a life.
