Ahead of the watchOS 26 release on September 15, Apple has secured FDA clearance for the hypertension notifications feature. The approval came through late Thursday night.
Hypertension notifications will be available in over 150 countries at launch, including the US, the UK, Europe and others.
Apple Watch’s hypertension notifications get FDA clearance
Apple announced hypertension notifications for the Apple Watch during its “Awe Dropping” event on September 9. The company then noted it was waiting for the necessary approval from the Food and Drug Administration and other regulators and expected it to arrive before launch.
Apple has now received clearance from the FDA, paving the way for hypertension notifications to come to the Apple Watch, reports Bloomberg.
Initially, it seemed like the feature was exclusive to the new Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. But, it eventually became clear that the feature will also make its way to older Apple Watches, including the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Series 9, 10 and 11 with the watchOS 26 update.
Hypertension detection on the Apple Watch does not require a new sensor. Instead, it analyzes existing heart rate data to track how a user’s blood vessels respond to each heartbeat. The feature runs passively in the background, building insights over rolling 30-day periods. Users are then informed if the algorithm detects consistent signs of hypertension.
No, it won’t replace a blood pressure monitor
While hypertension detection in Apple Watch might not always warn you of high blood pressure, Apple says it can still help at least half of the people with the problem. This can at least encourage them to take medical help, which can be potentially life-saving in the long run.
The company expects to warn at least 1 million people with undiagnosed hypertension in the first year of the feature’s debut.
Do note that your Apple Watch can only warn you of hypertension. You’ll have to use a third-party medical device to check your blood pressure.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
