Apple Watch's Hypertension detection feature gets FDA approval

Besides Apple Watch Series 11 and Watch Ultra 3, older models, Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Watch Ultra 2, will get the new high blood pressure detection feature with a software update as early next week.

Apple earlier this week unveiled the much-awaited Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3, SE series, along with the new iPhone Air, iPhone 17, 17 Pro models and AirPods Pro 3 at the 'Awe Dropping' event in Cupertino, California.

The key features of the new premium Watch variants included Hypertension detection and Sleep score. However, Apple had revealed that the new features will be activated only after getting approval from the US state-run agency Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

With just a week left before the devices hit stores worldwide, Apple has received approval from the FDA, according to Bloomberg.

This means the hypertension detection feature will be activated soon after the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 hit stores.

Even the older models, Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Watch Ultra 2, will get the new health feature with a software update as early next week. Apple is slated to roll out the watchOS 26 update on September 15.

Hypertension is one of the deadliest silent killers, as the symptoms usually go unnoticed until it's too late. Hypertension is said to be the leading cause of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, and reportedly impacts approximately 1.3 billion adults globally.

The Watch Series 11 supports hypertension detection.

The Watch Ultra 3's optical heart sensors and propreitary Apple Health algorithm will detect possible signs of chronic high blood pressure and will alert users to medical aid.

Apple says that the Hypertension notification feature was developed with advanced machine learning and training data from multiple studies, totalling over 100,000 participants. Its performance was then validated in a clinical study of over 2,000 participants.

If users receive a hypertension notification, it is recommended that they log their blood pressure for seven days using a third-party blood pressure cuff and share the results with their provider at their next visit, which is consistent with the latest American Heart Association guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypertension.

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