Last year, Apple announced that its latest watch models would feature high blood pressure detection. However, Australian users faced a delay as the functionality awaited approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Now that the approval has been granted, a software update will activate hypertension detection on devices including the Apple Watch Series 9 and newer, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and its successors.

Globally, hypertension affects over 1.4 billion individuals, with around 40 percent unaware of their condition due to its often symptomless nature.

Many people receive high blood pressure readings during doctor visits, which are sometimes attributed to anxiety or stress experienced in clinical settings.

With the new capability, the Apple Watch can alert users to potential hypertension after continuously monitoring their heart rate over a 30-day period.

Using a detailed optical sensor, the Watch is able to see how blood vessels respond to each beat of the heart.

While this is not a blood pressure measurement, Apple’s own trials, with over 100,000 participants, were able to set a benchmark for the detection of hypertension and then, through a smaller clinical trial, gain regulatory approval.

Apple’s smartwatch cannot perform a blood pressure reading. If hypertension is detected, the watch and phone will prompt the user to seek medical advice, and also begin logging blood pressure readings.

These readings are done manually using a blood pressure cuff and then logged into your Apple Health app, allowing users to have data for a medical professional to analyse.

Other devices do claim to take blood pressure measurements, though very few have TGA approval in Australia.

Some models of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch are able to take blood pressure measurements, but only after they are calibrated with a manual blood pressure cuff – great for ongoing monitoring of blood pressure.

Meanwhile, Apple’s approach seems targeted as bringing awareness to the many who suffer without any knowledge of the issue.

This is a big step forward in health, as hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

“Hypertension awareness in Australia is far too low, so we welcome new technologies that advise people that they might have hypertension and should seek confirmation from their doctor,” Professor Garry Jennings, chief medical advisor at the Australian Heart Foundation, said.

“Despite high blood pressure causing a greater risk of heart attack and stroke, only about a third of adults with hypertension are aware of it and have their blood pressure lowered to satisfactory levels.”

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