Apple has taken another step toward integrating health tech into everyday life. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Apple Watch’s hypertension notification feature, which will be available to users worldwide starting next week. This new tool combines Apple’s hardware and advanced machine learning to help millions identify potential high blood pressure risks early.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Apple announced the hypertension alerts earlier this week at its annual fall event alongside the debut of the Apple Watch Series 11. This feature will roll out in more than 150 countries, including the U.S. and European Union. To use it, owners must have an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, running watchOS 26, which begins its global rollout on September 15.
The new feature relies on the optical heart rate sensor located on the back of the watch. This sensor measures how blood vessels respond to each heartbeat. By collecting data over a 30-day period, the watch can detect patterns that indicate possible hypertension. When consistent signs are detected, the watch notifies the user, providing a discreet and proactive health warning.
Apple recommends following up with a third-party blood pressure cuff to log readings for seven consecutive days and share results with a healthcare provider. This advice follows American Heart Association guidelines, reinforcing Apple’s focus on integrating trusted medical practices into its technology.
During its keynote, Apple revealed the scale of its ambition: the company expects this feature to identify over one million people with undiagnosed hypertension in its first year alone. Detecting high blood pressure early can be life-saving, prompting users to make behavioral changes or begin treatment before the condition worsens.
In developing the feature, Apple leveraged extensive training data from multiple studies and conducted a clinical trial involving more than 2,000 participants. While the tool does not capture every case of hypertension, it significantly increases awareness and prevention efforts.
Apple also announced another new health-focused feature: Sleep Score, which provides users with an overnight evaluation of sleep quality, scored on a scale of 0 to 100. Like the hypertension alerts, Sleep Score will also work on older models such as the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE 2, and both Apple Watch Ultra models, provided the user has an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Apple’s move strengthens its position as a leader in wearable health technology, turning the Apple Watch into more than just a fitness tracker. By combining FDA approval with powerful machine learning and clinical validation, Apple is creating tools that can have a real-world impact on public health. As watchOS 26 rolls out, millions of users will gain access to features that could literally save lives.
For Apple, this step also deepens its relationship with the healthcare industry while setting the stage for future innovations in preventative medicine. The success of the hypertension alerts will likely influence how tech companies integrate medical-grade monitoring into consumer devices in the years ahead.
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