If you get a hypertension notification on your Apple Watch, that’s what you should do then
During the “AWE-Dropping” event of Apple at the beginning of the month, the company unveiled its functionality of hypertension notifications, which is now available on Watchos 26 devices, including the new Apple Watch 11 and Ultra 3 series. Similar to sleep apnea, noise health and hearts on Apple Watch, hypertension notifications aim to alert users of users possible hypertension. But then, what do you do with this information?
Below, we discuss everything you should know to help you better understand how hypertension notifications work and what to do if you get an alert.
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What is hypertension in the first place?
High blood pressure is also called hypertension, and according to the American Heart Association, it occurs when the “force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too high”. Hypertension can lead to serious cardiovascular problems such as a stroke or a heart attack. Contrary to popular belief, high blood pressure can affect people of all ages – not just adults.
According to the World Health Organization, 1.3 billion adults around the world suffer from hypertension. About 46% of adults with hypertension are not even aware that they have the condition because they may not feel symptoms. The only way to know if you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked.
Look at this: The new Apple watches increase our blood pressure with their new features
How do hypertension on the Apple Watch work?
Apple Watch’s optical cardiac sensor uses photopleyysmography, or PPG, data, which measures blood volume changes through the skin, to analyze how your blood vessels react to your heartbeat. Working passively, the in -depth learning algorithm uses 60 seconds of PPG signals as entries, which are collected about every two hours. These PPG data is also filtered using Apple Watch accelerometer data to determine if the user is motionless, which is required for algorithm. He then reviews these data over 30 days periods, and if she notices coherent signs of hypertension, he will alert the user.
Although this feature does not detect all cases of hypertension, Apple expects these alerts to have more than a million people of hypertension not diagnosed during the first year of its launch. This is crucial because there are lifestyle changes and medical interventions that can help people control their blood pressure, preventing more serious problems. Early intervention and treatment are essential. In addition, as we have mentioned, people can ignore that they suffer from hypertension due to no notable symptoms, therefore receiving a hypertension alert on their watch allows them to take measures that they would not have taken otherwise.
What should you do if you get a hypertension notification on your Apple Watch?
If a hypertension notification is received, Apple recommends you to record your blood pressure with a third -party toll of blood pressure for seven days before sharing the results with your doctor.
The characteristic of hypertension notifications is not intended to be used by people under 22, those who are pregnant or people who have already received a diagnosis of hypertension.
The Apple Watch 11 series exhibited during the Apple event, Cupertino, on September 9.
Are hypertension notifications for blood pressure readings?
Although this new feature can inform you of potential hypertension, it is not the same as a blood pressure reading that you would get from a cuff. Indeed, the optical sensors of a smartwatch are not as precise as a handle that can measure the strength of your blood on an artery because it tightens and relaxes around your arm. Unlike a armband, a smartwatch would also require calibration to create a basic line.
How hypertension notifications were created
The hypertension notifications function has been developed using data from several studies with more than 100,000 participants and advanced automatic learning. It was then validated in a clinical study with more than 2,000 participants.
When will hypertension notifications available?
The characteristic of hypertension notifications is available in more than 150 countries and regions, including the United States and Europe. It can be found on the Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later. However, these devices must operate on Watchos 26.
When the Watchos 26 update was published on September 15 for the Apple Watch 9 series, the 10 series and the Ultra 2, hypertension notifications were included. The notifications will also be on the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, which were published on September 19.
Are hypertension notifications protected by the FDA?
As of September 11, the characteristic of hypertension notifications was eliminated by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States.
