Does Apple Watch Measure Blood Pressure?

With advancing technology, keeping a check on your health has become comparatively easier. The Apple Watch has many features that help you maintain your health status. But does the Apple Watch measure blood pressure? This is one of the most frequently asked questions regarding the health functions of the Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch is known for its fitness features, and with advanced technology, the need to go to the doctor for small checkups is minimized. With features like heart rate, low cardio fitness notifications, blood oxygen level, and an optical heart sensor, the watch has come a long way. But is it possible to measure blood pressure using the watch? Let’s find out.

Is it possible to measure blood pressure with an Apple Watch?

As of writing this article, the Apple Watch can’t measure blood pressure independently. In an interview, a top official at Apple said that to measure blood pressure and keep a check on it, a separate blood pressure measuring device is required. Though you can sync the device with your Apple Watch and keep track of your blood pressure.

Apple is constantly working on inculcating a feature to measure your blood pressure using the watch, but as of now, there’s no such feature available. For now, you have to resort to a separate blood pressure measuring device to measure your blood pressure. However, there are only a limited number of blood pressure measuring devices that are compatible with the Apple Watch. Some of them are mentioned below:

• QardioArm Wireless BP Monitor
• OMRON 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor
• iHealth Feel Wireless Arm BP Monitor
• A&D Medical Ultraconnect Wireless Wrist BP Monitor
• Withings BPM Connect Wi-Fi Smart Blood Pressure Monitor

These at-home blood pressure monitors can be used to measure your blood pressure and can be synced with your Apple Watch too.

How to measure blood pressure using an Apple Watch?

As mentioned above, you can’t measure blood pressure with an Apple watch; you need a blood pressure monitoring machine. If you choose one of the above-given monitors, you will be able to sync it with your Apple Watch. The process to sync and measure blood pressure varies depending on the device that you use. Here we will use the OMRON 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor to demonstrate the process.

• Firstly, download and install the OMRON Connect app on your Apple Watch.
• Open the app and tap on the plus icon, then navigate to your profile to connect with a new device.
• Follow the provided instructions to add and pair the monitor.
• After connecting, you’ll be able to capture and save readings directly on your Apple Watch when using the wireless cuff.

While it’s possible to manually input blood pressure data in the “Heart” category of your Health app on your iPhone, you also have the option to automatically sync and store readings through the monitor’s app. To enable this feature, make sure to activate data sharing with other apps.

Normal blood pressure range

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by your blood against the walls of your arteries while traveling from the heart to the rest of your body. This is calculated based on two values, i.e., systolic and diastolic.

The range of blood pressure varies from time to time; a normal blood pressure reading shows a systolic measurement below 120–130 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and a diastolic measurement under 80 mmHg, often expressed as 120–130/80 mmHg. High blood pressure, referred to as hypertension, is identified when blood pressure readings consistently surpass 140/90 mmHg.

blood pressure measure on future Apple watches

As mentioned above, Apple is working on revolutionizing home health monitoring by adding new features to their upcoming Apple Watch Series 10. The next generation of the Apple Watch is anticipated to introduce groundbreaking features like measuring blood pressure and sleep disturbances. With these features, you will have more control over your health. They will help you diagnose conditions such as hypertension and sleep apnea.

Blood Pressure measurement

The upcoming Apple Watch is expected to feature a basic blood pressure sensor. Speculations say that the sensor might use near-infrared spectroscopy, a method that calculates changes in blood pressure by analyzing blood flow with near-infrared light.

Though the feature may not provide you with accurate results like the original BP cuff, it can identify changes and, notably, detect increases in blood pressure. This function could serve as an initial indicator that a person may be experiencing hypertension, prompting further evaluation by a healthcare professional.

sleep apnea detection

The sleep apnea detection feature in the Apple Watch Series 10 enhances its health monitoring capabilities by addressing sleep-related issues. While this may not be as accurate as a traditional sleep study, the function helps in identifying common indicators of sleep disturbances. It monitors movement, breathing rate, snoring, and heart rate to detect anomalies.

If irregularities are identified, the watch will issue an early warning. The warning will indicate users to seek advice from a healthcare professional for a formal assessment. This pre-screening feature adds a layer of health monitoring to the Apple Watch Series 10.

Conclusion

The Apple Watch is constantly helping users achieve their health goals. With so many health-related features, this device has become important for users aiming to keep a check on their physical fitness. Currently, the Apple Watch cannot calculate blood pressure independently. However, the company claims that they are working on it and will introduce these features in the Apple Watch Series 10.