Apple Watch users in the UAE no longer need a separate device to monitor blood pressure; they can simply use their watch.
On December 3, a new feature was launched in the UAE that provides alerts for potential hypertension, notifying users of possible chronic high blood pressure.
Hypertension is the primary risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease, affecting around 1.3 billion adults worldwide. It often goes undiagnosed due to a lack of symptoms, irregular doctor visits, and can be missed during clinical checks.
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Apple has confirmed that this feature is based on extensive scientific validation. Developed using advanced machine learning and data from various studies involving over 100,000 participants, its effectiveness was validated in a clinical study with more than 2,000 participants.
How does it work?
The watch leverages the optical heart sensor to assess the user’s blood vessel response to heartbeats.
The algorithm operates quietly in the background, analyzing data over 30 days and notifying users if consistent hypertension signs are detected.
These alerts give users crucial health insights, enabling them to make lifestyle changes or seek treatment to mitigate serious health risks.
If notified of hypertension, users should record their blood pressure for seven days using a third-party cuff and discuss the results with their healthcare provider.
While not all hypertension cases will be detected by the watch, the feature is projected to alert over 1 million undiagnosed individuals in its first year.
