Apple Watch Can Now Give Hypertension Risk Notifications, Here's How It Works

Apple Watch detected certain patterns in blood vessels and arteries in the last 30 days associated with hypertension. (photo: dock. apple)

JAKARTA - Apple has officially explained how the hypertension notification feature works on Apple Watch which has just received approval from the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration). Although it sounds sophisticated, Apple emphasizes that this feature is not a tool to measure blood pressure directly and is not meant to diagnose or treat hypertension.

According to Apple, about a million users can receive a Possible Hypertension notification in the next 12 months. This notification comes as Apple Watch detects certain patterns in blood vessels and arteries in the last 30 days associated with hypertension.

However, Apple warns that not all hypertension sufferers will receive a warning, and vice versa, the emergence of notifications also does not mean that someone must have hypertension.

In its official support document, Apple wrote that if users receive the notification, they will be asked to make a record of blood pressure (Blood Pressure Log) using a third-party blood pressure measuring device for 7 days. This data should be brought and discussed with medical personnel.

"Users are advised to discuss hypertension notifications and the results of blood pressure measurements with health workers on the next visit," Apple wrote.

Apple also confirmed that this feature is not intended to detect or handle other medical conditions such as blood clots, strokes, atrium fibrillation, heart failure, or high cholesterol.

This feature is not active automatically, so users need to turn it on manually via the iPhone. Here are the steps:

Open the Apple Watch application on iPhone

Select the My Watch menu and then enter the Passcode

Make Sure Wrist Detection is active

Open the Health app on iPhone

Tap the profile icon at the top right, select Features and then Health Checklist

Select Hypertension Notifications and follow confirmed steps

Apple issued several warnings before this feature is enabled. Users must be over 22 years old and must not activate this feature if they are pregnant.

Although it has not been able to measure blood pressure directly, this feature is considered an important step in daily health monitoring. Apple reiterated that each notification must be treated as an initial warning and still needs to be confirmed through a professional medical examination.