Apple Watch will officially be able to alert users to signs of high blood pressure. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the launch of a new Hypertension Notifications feature, which Apple introduced this week with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3.
Apple Watch will officially be able to alert users to signs of high blood pressure. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the launch of a new Hypertension Notifications feature, which Apple introduced this week with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3.
According to 9to5Mac, the feature will be available next week in more than 150 countries and regions, including the US, EU, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. It will be available not only on the new Series 11 and Ultra 3, but also on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2.
Hypertension Notifications works in the background thanks to the optical heart sensor. The algorithm analyzes how the user’s blood vessels respond to heart contractions for 30 days and sends a notification if persistent signs of hypertension are detected. In this way, Apple wants to help people pay attention to the problem in a timely manner and make lifestyle changes or start treatment in time.
According to the company, the new technology can detect almost half of all cases of hypertension, including a significant proportion of patients with stage 2. In tests, the algorithm demonstrated 95,3% specificity for the «Normal» category. This means that even users without a full clinical diagnosis can receive a signal of increased risk and consult a doctor for a more accurate diagnosis.
Apple predicts that the feature will be able to notify more than a million people with undiagnosed hypertension in its first year alone. While Hypertension Notifications is not a medical screening tool and does not replace a doctor, it does provide an additional layer of monitoring and awareness of cardiovascular risk factors.
The new additions underscore Apple’s increased focus on digital health. The company already integrates ECG and arrhythmia detection features into its watches, and the new hypertension alerts add to that list, making the Apple Watch one of the most functional wearables for preventive medicine.
Recall, previously dev.ua wrote about how Apple introduced the updated Apple Watch line: Series 11 (flagship), Ultra 3 (for extreme conditions), and SE 3 (budget option).
