October 8, 2025<\/p>\n
UPDATE<\/p>\n
Hypertension notifications available today on Apple\u00a0Watch<\/p>\n
Starting today, Apple Watch introduces the groundbreaking hypertension notifications feature in Canada, which can alert users if signs of chronic high blood pressure \u2014 or hypertension \u2014 are detected.<\/p>\n
Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, and impacts approximately 1.3 billion adults globally. It is frequently undiagnosed because it often has no symptoms, many people do not see a doctor regularly, and even during a clinical visit, it can be easily missed with a single measurement.<\/p>\n
Hypertension notifications on Apple Watch use data from the optical heart sensor to analyze how a user\u2019s blood vessels respond to the beats of the heart. The algorithm works passively in the background reviewing data over 30-day periods, and will notify users if it detects consistent signs of hypertension. These notifications provide users with valuable insights into their health as it relates to this widespread condition simply by wearing their Apple Watch, so they can begin making potentially lifesaving behavioural changes, or start treatment to reduce their risk of serious, long-term health events. Users can set up<\/a> hypertension notifications in the Health app on iPhone.<\/p>\n \u201cHypertension affects approximately 8 million Canadians \u2014 about one in four \u2014 and this number will only grow as our population ages,\u201d said Dr. Heather Ross, head of cardiology at University Health Network\u2019s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. \u201cDespite being treatable, it frequently goes undetected and is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease, including stroke, coronary disease, dementia, and heart failure. One of the greatest challenges is improving screening to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment. That\u2019s why hypertension notifications on Apple Watch are a true breakthrough and could be a real game changer.\u201d<\/p>\n Like all of Apple\u2019s health features, hypertension notifications are grounded in rigorous scientific validation. The feature was developed with advanced machine learning and training data from multiple studies totalling over 100,000 participants. Its performance was then validated<\/a> in a clinical study of over 2,000 participants. While hypertension notifications will not detect all instances of hypertension, with the reach of Apple Watch, the feature is expected to notify over 1 million people with undiagnosed hypertension within the first year.<\/p>\n If users receive a hypertension notification, it is recommended that they log their blood pressure using a third-party blood pressure cuff and share the results with their provider at their next visit, which is consistent with the diagnosis and management of hypertension. The Health app now includes a logging experience to support users with their cuff measurements, which includes classifications based on local guidelines. Users will get access to this detailed report to share with their healthcare provider.<\/p>\n Users will get access to this detailed report to share with their healthcare provider. The feature is not intended for use by people under 22 years old, those who have been previously diagnosed with hypertension, or during pregnancy.<\/p>\n Press Contact<\/p>\n Cortney Hughes<\/p>\n Apple<\/p>\n