Starting today, the Apple Watch incorporates hypertension notifications available in Colombia, allowing users to receive alerts if the device detects signs of chronic high blood pressure.
This new functionality represents a relevant advance for cardiovascular health monitoring, especially in a country where hypertension is an important risk factor and often goes unnoticed.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the main modifiable risk factor for serious diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage.
According to international estimates, it affects about 1.4 billion adults worldwide and, in many cases, remains undiagnosed due to the absence of obvious symptoms.In addition to this, many people do not regularly attend the doctor, and the diagnosis can go unnoticed even during medical check-ups if only an isolated measurement is performed.
The new feature uses the Apple Watch’s optical heart rate sensor to analyze the response of blood vessels to your heartbeat.The algorithm, developed with advanced machine learning, works in the background reviewing data collected over 30 days.If patterns consistent with hypertension are detected, the user receives a notification on their watch.
This feature is not intended to diagnose or treat hypertension, but it provides a warning signal that may motivate the user to perform additional checks, modify lifestyle habits, or consult a doctor.The goal is to reduce the risk of serious and long-lasting cardiovascular problems through early intervention.
The functionality is supported by rigorous scientific validation.During its development, data from more than 100,000 international study participants was used, and its performance was tested in a clinical study with more than 2,000 people.
Apple estimates that, thanks to the broad user base of the Apple Watch, this tool could notify more than one million people with undiagnosed hypertension in the first year of operation globally.
To access hypertension notifications, users in Colombia must have an Apple Watch Series 9 or later model, or an Apple WatchUltra 2, both with the most recent version of watchOS.
Likewise, an iPhone 11 or later updated with the latest version of iOS is required.The wrist detection option must be activated and the user must be at least 22 years old, not pregnant or previously diagnosed with hypertension.
Activating the functionality is simple: from the Health app on the iPhone, you must access the profile, select the health checklist and activate hypertension notifications.The system will ask you to confirm your age and hypertension history before completing the setup.
If the Apple Watch issues a notification, it means that it has identified patterns related to hypertension in your heart data from the last 30 days. Given this alert, it is recommended to speak with a health professional at your next medical visit.
It is also suggested to record blood pressure for seven days using a third-party blood pressure monitor and share the results with the doctor, following current guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
It’s important to remember that the feature is not designed to detect or treat other conditions, such as clots, stroke, atrial fibrillation, or heart failure.Additionally, if the user has registered a pregnancy in the Health app, the function will not be available.
The Apple Watch does not detect heart attacks.If you experience symptoms such as pain or pressure in the chest, emergency services should be contacted immediately.
With the arrival of this tool in Colombia, Apple reinforces its commitment to preventive health monitoring and provides users with an additional resource to early identify a frequent and often silent condition.
