- TGA has approved the hypertension notification function of the Apple Watch
- Apple can now legally enable the feature on its smartwatch
- This could be a life-saving feature as it alerts you if your watch thinks you have chronic high blood pressure.
The one feature I’ve been waiting for on the Apple Watch Series 11 has finally been approved. According to a report published by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) earlier this month, the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) has finally approved hypertension notifications on compatible Apple Watches.
However, this doesn’t mean that users can start using the feature immediately; it simply allows Apple to legally enable blood pressure monitoring on its popular smartwatch. Apple has yet to update 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 was a relatively quick turnaround for the TGA, considering it took the government body more than a year to previously approve ECG monitoring and sleep apnea screening. That said, we’re a little late to the party as the feature already works in 150 other countries, including Canada and New Zealand.
Is controlling hypertension important?
You don’t necessarily need the latest Apple Watch to take advantage of hypertension notifications: the Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later could monitor blood pressure since the hardware is already installed. However, you will have to run watchOS 26 on the smartwatch.
However, none of the SE series watches have this capability.
If you suffer from chronic high blood pressure, you’re hopefully already under your doctor’s care, but having something on your wrist at all times means you could be alerted to potential spikes and take early action if necessary. It can also help you create a record to take to your doctor.
The Apple Watch does this using data from the wearable device’s optical heart sensor, reviewing it over a 30-day period to look for consistent signs of high blood pressure.
Hypertension is a serious risk factor that can lead to a number of health problems, including heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease, and unfortunately, many people don’t necessarily know they have hypertension as they don’t necessarily have any symptoms. That means it can be overlooked.
According to the Heart Research Institute (HRI), more than 4 million Australians are affected by cardiovascular problems and the ability to consistently control 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 double-check it 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. With any luck, you’ll never need his help, but it’s nice to know he’ll be there if you need it.
Read more about how the Apple Watch controls blood pressure.
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