Apple on Wednesday announced that hypertension notifications are now available on Apple Watch and iPhone in Australia, marking a significant expansion of the company’s health-focused features.
The new feature, introduced with recent software updates, uses the Apple Watch’s optical heart sensor to passively analyze how users’ blood vessels respond to heartbeats. Over 30-day periods, an advanced algorithm reviews the data in the background and alerts users if it detects consistent signs of chronic high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. This condition is a leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, affecting roughly 1.4 billion adults worldwide, and it often goes undiagnosed due to its lack of symptoms.
Users can set up the feature via the Health app on their paired iPhone, where they receive notifications encouraging them to consult a healthcare provider for confirmation and potential management. If alerted, Apple recommends logging blood pressure measurements over seven days with a third-party cuff and sharing the results with a doctor, aligning with standard hypertension guidelines.
The feature is built on rigorous scientific validation, including machine learning trained on data from over 100,000 participants and a clinical study involving more than 2,000 people. Apple estimates it could notify over 1 million individuals with previously undiagnosed hypertension in its first year of availability. Importantly, it is not a diagnostic tool, cannot detect every case of hypertension, and is not intended for those under 22 years old, people already diagnosed with hypertension, or those who are pregnant. Users should always consult medical professionals rather than rely solely on the device.
Hypertension notifications are supported on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, as well as Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later.
The rollout began in Australia, as detailed in Apple’s announcement, with praise from experts like Professor Garry Jennings of the Australian Heart Foundation, who highlighted the low awareness of hypertension in the region and the value of tools that prompt users to seek medical confirmation.
Expanded availability in additional markets
In addition to Australia, hypertension notifications are now accessible for Apple Watch and iPhone users in several other countries, including Malaysia, Colombia, Indonesia, South Korea, Brazil, and Turkey. This broader rollout helps bring the proactive health insight to more regions where regulatory approvals and local availability have aligned.
The feature underscores Apple’s ongoing commitment to empowering users with health tools that encourage early awareness and positive behavioral changes to reduce long-term risks. For the latest details on availability in specific regions, users can check the Health app or Apple’s support resources.
MacDailyNews Note: Learn more about Hypertension
notifications on Apple Watch here.
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