Enhanced Hypertension Detection on Apple Watch Might Prove Vital for Your Health Preservation
Apple has made a significant stride in the health tech industry with its latest feature for the Apple Watch. Starting from September 19, users can receive notifications for hypertension, a condition that poses a significant risk to cardiovascular health.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and rising cases of high blood pressure contribute significantly to this statistic. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can affect anyone, regardless of physical fitness or the absence of certain risk factors. In fact, approximately 30 to 40 percent of adults in the United States have hypertension by middle age, and many healthy, fit individuals may go undiagnosed for longer periods.
The new feature works by observing how blood vessels contract and relax in response to the beating of the heart. Using a machine-learning algorithm, the Apple Watch identifies patterns associated with hypertension over time. However, it's important to note that the Apple Watch does not measure blood pressure directly. For that, a blood pressure cuff is still required.
Lakshmi Halasyamani, MD, the chief clinical officer at Endeavor Health and a clinical associate professor of medicine at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago, and Srihari S. Naidu, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, a professor of medicine at New York Medical College and the president of the New York Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, have both commended this new feature. They believe it has the potential to be Apple's greatest contribution to the health tech space in the past decade.
The Apple Watch's hypertension notification feature is just one of the new additions to the Apple product line, which also includes the iPhone and AirPods, all of which were unveiled last week. The iPhone 17, set to ship soon, will come with a base storage of 256 gigabytes.
As always, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional for accurate and personalized health advice. The Apple Watch's hypertension notification feature is designed to supplement, not replace, regular medical check-ups and advice.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially confirmed in 2021 that heart diseases are the leading cause of death in the USA and that an increasing number of hypertension cases contribute to this trend. By providing early warnings, the new Apple Watch feature could potentially help in managing hypertension and reducing the risk of heart disease.
