- TGA Approved Apple Watch’s Hypertension Notification Feature
- Apple can now legally enable this feature on its smartwatch
- This could save lives because it alerts you if your watch thinks you have chronic high blood pressure.
The one feature I expected on the Apple Watch Series 11 has finally been approved. According to a report released by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) earlier this month, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has finally approved hypertension notifications on compatible Apple Watches.
However, this does not mean that users can immediately start using this feature; it simply allows Apple to legally enable blood pressure monitoring on its popular smartwatch. There’s no update yet from Apple when the feature will roll out in Australia, but the tech giant typically releases an update as soon as possible when local authorities approve a health tracking feature.
This is a relatively quick turnaround for the TGA, given that it took over a year for the government body to previously approve ECG monitoring and sleep apnea detection. That said, we’re a little late to the party since the feature already works in 150 other countries, including Canada and New Zealand.
Is hypertension monitoring important?
You don’t necessarily need the latest Apple Watch to take advantage of high blood pressure notifications: an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or newer would be able to monitor blood pressure because the hardware is already installed. However, none of the SE series watches have this capability.
If you have chronic high blood pressure, hopefully you’re already under your doctor’s care, but having something on your wrist at all times means you could be alerted to possible spikes and take early action if necessary. This can also help you build a file to take to your doctor.
To do this, the Apple Watch uses data from the wearable’s optical heart sensor, examining it over a 30-day period to detect consistent signs of high blood pressure.
Hypertension is a serious risk factor that can lead to several health problems, including heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease. Unfortunately, many people don’t necessarily know they have hypertension because they may not have any symptoms. This means it can be missed.
According to the Heart Research Institute (HRI), more than 4 million Australians are affected by cardiovascular problems and the ability to regularly monitor their blood pressure could save lives.
It’s important to note that your Apple Watch readings may not be accurate. If you receive a notification, it is best to check again using a medically approved blood pressure monitor.
Once Apple rolls out the feature, you won’t need to configure it – it works passively and automatically in the background. Hopefully you’ll never need her help, but it’s nice to know she’s there if you need it.
Learn more about how Apple Watch monitors blood pressure.
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