Apple has introduced hypertension notifications for Apple Watch users in India, enabling the smartwatch to detect signs
of chronic high blood pressure/hypertension, and alert the user so they can be made aware.
Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, Apple noted, adding
that it impacts approximately 1.3 billion adults globally.
Apple Watches will use data from the device’s optical heart sensor, analysing how users’ blood vessels respond to
heartbeats. The algorithm works passively in the background, per Apple, reviewing data over 30-day periods.
Users are set to be notified if the watch detects consistent signs of hypertension.
The gadget-maker added that if users get a hypertension notification, it is recommended that they log their blood
pressure for a week with a blood pressure cuff and share the results with a doctor.
“While hypertension notifications will not detect all instances of hypertension, with the reach of Apple Watch, the
feature is expected to notify over 1 million people with undiagnosed hypertension within the first year,” noted Apple in