Quick Summary
Apple Watch now offers hypertension notifications that look for long term signs of high blood pressure using optical sensor data. This is not a diagnosis. Confirm with a cuff for 7 days, then share the evidence. Aether helps you store the alert, attach the blood pressure log, and keep everything in one shareable health graph.
What the Watch actually does
The feature reviews patterns over time and may alert you if signs of chronic high blood pressure are detected. It does not take a blood pressure reading by itself. It looks for signals in how your vessels respond to your heartbeat. Availability rolls out by region and by watch and iPhone models.
Turn an alert into a plan in 3 steps
- Confirm with a cuff. Measure twice daily for 7 days. Keep your arm at heart level. Sit and rest for 5 minutes before each reading.
- Capture evidence in Aether. Upload the Watch alert screenshot and the 7 day blood pressure log. Tag medication, caffeine, sleep, and stress notes.
- Share a read only link. Send the package to your clinician or caregiver. Revoke access any time.
What the numbers mean
Many references use 140 over 90 millimeters of mercury in clinic, or 135 over 85 at home, as persistent high blood pressure thresholds. Targets vary by guideline and by personal context. Follow your clinician's advice.
Common gotchas
- Wrist based alerts are not blood pressure numbers. Always confirm with a validated cuff.
- Availability varies by country and device. Check Apple's regional newsroom posts and support pages.
- Alerts often need a baseline of at least 30 days before evaluation.
Keep the context
Hypertension lives alongside sleep, stress, salt, and medication changes. Aether keeps them together so your next visit is about a plan, not a pile of PDFs.
This article is informational and not medical advice. If you are concerned about blood pressure, talk to a clinician.