Apple Watch Hypertension Alert Feature Has Received FDA Clearance Ahead Of Launch

Apple announced the new Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 during an event on September 12, including a new hypertension alert feature.

Now, that feature has been officially approved by the FDA in the United States.

When Apple first announced the new smartwatches, it said that the hypertension feature would be available “soon,” but the FDA approval means that it will now be available when the smartwatches go on sale on September 19.

You won’t need to buy a new Apple Watch to make use of the new hypertension feature, however. The feature will also be available on the Apple Watch Series 9 or later as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It’ll also launch in more than 150 countries, assuming regulatory approval is received in those areas.

Apple says that the feature will review blood pressure data over a 30-day period and notify the wearer of any concerns.

Hypertension notifications on Apple Watch use data from the optical heart sensor to analyze how a user’s 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 behavioral changes, or start treatment to reduce their risk of serious, long-term health events.