For years, smartwatches have helped us monitor our health. From tracking how many steps we take each day to measuring our heart rate, our watches have helped us stay healthy. More recently, many smartwatches can measure our blood pressure, letting the user take a reading as and when they need to. But now, thanks to FDA approval, users can receive a notification if their smartwatch detects signs of hypertension.

What to Do After Receiving a Hypertension Notification

If you receive a hypertension notification, it’s essential to stay calm and take the necessary steps to verify the reading. You should use a medically certified, FDA-approved blood pressure monitor to check your blood pressure. Monitor your blood pressure using this device for the next week, and consult your doctor if it reads high.

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, occurs when your blood vessels experience too much pressure. Blood pressure measurements are given as “systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure.” To be diagnosed with hypertension in the U.S., a reading of 130/80 mmHg must be measured on two separate days.

Currently, the Apple Watch is the only smartwatch that can provide hypertension notifications. Following FDA approval, Apple first launched its hypertension notification feature in September 2025. It’s now available in over 150 countries.

How the Feature Works

Apple Watches have been able to track heart rate for many years by using an optical heart sensor. As your heart beats, the watch uses light to measure changes to your blood vessels. It then calculates your blood pressure by analyzing photoplethysmography (PPG) signals.

Users can’t spot-check this feature. Instead, it works in the background and assesses your blood pressure over a rolling 30-day period. When it detects consistently high levels of blood pressure, it will send you an alert.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.