Can Apple Watch Measure Blood Pressure?

Introduction

Many people wonder if an Apple Watch can measure blood pressure. While Apple Watch offers useful health-monitoring features like heart rate tracking and ECG (electrocardiogram), it does not have a built-in feature to measure blood pressure directly.

How Blood Pressure is Measured

Blood pressure is typically measured using a sphygmomanometer, which includes an inflatable cuff that compresses an artery to determine systolic and diastolic pressures. These values tell us how much force your heart uses to pump blood through your arteries. Smartwatches currently lack the ability to perform this kind of measurement directly.

Apple Watch & Blood Pressure Monitoring

Although Apple Watch itself doesn’t measure blood pressure, it can work alongside external Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuffs, such as those from Withings or Omron. These devices measure your blood pressure and sync the results to the Apple Health app.

Why Blood Pressure Monitoring Is Important

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Monitoring it regularly can help detect problems early and prevent serious health consequences.

Alternatives for Blood Pressure Monitoring

Currently, some advanced wearables, like Samsung Galaxy Watch, have a blood pressure monitoring feature, but they still require periodic calibration with a traditional cuff.

Conclusion

While Apple Watch cannot directly measure blood pressure, you can still track your BP by using an approved external monitor connected to the Apple Health app. Regular monitoring and lifestyle modifications (a healthy diet, exercise, and reducing stress) can significantly improve heart health. If you have concerns about high blood pressure, consult your doctor for proper assessment and management.

Source recommendations

1. American Heart Association Guidelines on Hypertension

1. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure
2. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/hyp.0000000000000065
3. https://www.heart.org/-/media/Files/Professional/Quality-Improvement/Pain-Management/AHA-GUIDELINEDRIVEN-MANAGEMENT-OF-HYPERTENSION--AN-EVIDENCEBASED-UPDATE.pdf
4. https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/2017-hypertension-clinical-guidelines
5. https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2024/02/05/11/43/2023-ESH-Hypertension-Guideline-Update

2. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on Hypertension

1. https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Elevated-Blood-Pressure-and-Hypertension
2. https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/38/3912/7741010
3. https://www.ejinme.com/article/S0953-6205(24)00238-3/fulltext
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37345492/
5. https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2024/02/05/11/43/2023-ESH-Hypertension-Guideline-Update