Hypertension notifications on your Apple Watch

The Hypertension Notifications Feature can look for patterns of chronic high blood pressure and notify you of possible hypertension.

About hypertension notifications

Hypertension is an ongoing condition that can cause damage to your heart, blood vessels, and other organs. Your Apple Watch can analyze data collected by the optical heart sensor and notify you if it detects a pattern of hypertension. This is done over 30-day evaluation periods, starting from the day you set up hypertension notifications.

Here's what you need

• Make sure that the Hypertension Notifications Feature is available in your country or region.

• An Apple Watch Series 9 or later or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, with the latest version of watchOS. Hypertension Notifications might not be available on Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 in your region, as additional regulatory clearances for the feature for these models are in process. Please see feature availability status for your region.

• An iPhone 11 or later with the latest version of iOS.

• Make sure Wrist Detection is turned on.

• You must be 22 years or older, not pregnant, and have not been diagnosed with hypertension.

Turn on hypertension notifications

1. On your iPhone, open the Health app.

2. Tap the Profile button in the upper corner.

3. Under Features, tap Health Checklist.

4. Tap Hypertension Notifications.

5. Confirm your age and if you've ever been diagnosed with hypertension, then tap Continue.

6. Tap Next to follow the onscreen prompts to learn how the notifications work.

7. Tap Done.

What to do when you receive a notification

If you receive a notification, the Hypertension Notifications Feature on your Apple Watch identified patterns related to hypertension within the last 30 days of your heart data.

You should discuss the hypertension notification and your blood pressure measurements with your healthcare professional at your next appointment. You will also be prompted to set up a Blood Pressure Log and use a third-party blood pressure cuff to measure and track your blood pressure for 7 days.

Things you should know

• If you use a secondary iPhone that's not paired to your Apple Watch, hypertension notifications will be delayed until your primary phone is unlocked and completes the analysis.

• The Hypertension Notifications Feature is not intended to diagnose, treat, or aid in the management of hypertension or other conditions such as blood clots, stroke, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, or high cholesterol.

• Not all people with hypertension receive a notification.

• Apple Watch cannot detect heart attacks. If you ever experience chest pain, pressure, tightness, or what you think is a heart attack, call emergency services immediately.

• If you have an active pregnancy logged in the Health app, you can't enable the Hypertension Notifications Feature.