The Apple watch listens to what your heart whispers.
Early Heart Alerts – Apple Watch Tackles Undiagnosed Hypertension
Apple Watch users in India can now access a new hypertension notifications feature designed to alert users if signs of chronic high blood pressure are detected.
Unlike the traditional way of monitoring BP, this feature uses a machine learning algorithm to analyse PPG (photoplethysmography) data collected from the watch’s optical heart sensors over a 30-day period. It is specifically intended for users with undiagnosed hypertension.
Speaking about the feature, Dr. Adam Phillips, an Apple cardiologist, said that it is built on Apple’s three health principles: scientific rigor, actionable insights, and privacy. He said that “Our features are rooted in science, clinically validated to the highest standards. Notifications are designed to reach the right person at the right time with actionable guidance, and user privacy remains central”.
Hypertension is a major public health challenge, affecting 1.3 billion people globally and with half going undiagnosed – it is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
With this feature, the Cupertino giant hopes that early alerts can be provided to those users who seek medical evaluation, eventually preventing serious complications such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
In order to develop this feature, data from over 100,000 participants and clinically validated in a study involving 2,229 adults over 30 days.
Apple expects around one million users to adopt it in the first year.
From Alerts to Action: Apple Watch Hypertension Alerts
These notifications shall be available to users beyond 22 years of age and ones who have not been previously diagnosed with hypertension and are not pregnant. After a one-time setup through the Watch or Health app, the feature runs automatically in the background. Users with known hypertension cannot activate it, though they can log blood pressure manually. Compatible devices include Apple Watch Series 9, 10, 11, Ultra 2, and Ultra 3, and generated reports can be shared via email, messages, or WhatsApp for medical consultations. Apple recommends logging blood pressure for seven days using a third-party cuff if a hypertension alert is received.
In clinical validation, the feature showed 41.2% sensitivity in detecting hypertension and 92.3% specificity in identifying users without it—comparable to standard clinical BP cuffs, which typically achieve around 50% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Dr. Phillips noted that temporary factors such as stress or new medications are unlikely to trigger alerts, as the feature is designed to detect long-term, chronic hypertension rather than short-term fluctuations
Looking at all of these developments, we can definitely say that a gentle nudge from technology today could guard your heartbeat tomorrow
Summary
Apple Watch users in India can now receive hypertension notifications, detecting signs of chronic high blood pressure using PPG data over 30 days. Designed for undiagnosed cases, the feature runs automatically on compatible watches, providing actionable alerts. Clinically validated for accuracy, it avoids false positives from short-term factors. Apple aims to help users seek early evaluation and prevent serious heart-related complications.
