Apple Watch Series 11 Adds Hypertension Alerts Expected to Notify 1 Million Users

Apple has introduced a new hypertension notification feature for the Apple Watch, designed to alert users to consistent signs of chronic high blood pressure using the optical heart sensor and an algorithm analyzing data over 30-day periods. This feature will be available starting with the Apple Watch Series 9 and later models, including the Series 11 and Ultra 2, with a global rollout expected soon following regulatory clearances. The hypertension alerts aim to notify at least 1 million users of previously undiagnosed high blood pressure in the first year, a condition affecting approximately 1.3 billion adults worldwide and a leading preventable cause of heart attacks and strokes. Apple emphasizes that the feature warns of potential issues rather than diagnosing hypertension and recommends users follow up with traditional blood pressure monitoring and healthcare providers. This addition complements existing health tools on the Apple Watch, such as ECG, arrhythmia detection, and blood oxygen level monitoring. Regulatory challenges have delayed the launch, and while true blood pressure measurement is not yet available, Apple may introduce it in future updates.