- Apple’s Watchos 26 update is available to install today
- It brings a new feature that can detect hypertension
- This warns you if your watch thinks you have chronically high blood pressure
Apple’s Watcho’s 26 update is launched today, and it is marmaladed with new features, from a fresh floating glass design and AI-driven trainingmate for life translation and smart stack tip. However, a feature could make a huge difference to your ongoing health.
Hypertension -warnings hold a vigilant watch for signs of chronic high blood pressure that tells you as soon as any deviations from the norm are discovered so you can intervene by visiting a doctor. This is done by using data from Apple Watch’s optical heart sensor and reviewing data over a 30-day period to fit uniform signs of high blood pressure.
It is a big thing because hypertension is a serious – and leading – risk factor for health problems such as heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease, and these affect 1.3 billion people around the world. Part of the problem is that hypertension often does not present any symptoms, which means it can easily miss until something drastic happens.
That’s why Watchos 26’s hypertensional arms have the potential to make such a big difference. If they turn out to be accurate, they could get people the help they need – and maybe even save lives. In fact, Apple believes up to one million people could receive the alarms in the first year of the function. It recently received the FDA approval and Apple says it will be available in over 150 countries.
Compatible Apple Watch models
You will probably know which Apple Watch models are compatible with hypertensional arms. The long and short of it is that you need a relatively newer Apple Watch to take advantage.
Specifically, you need Watchos 26 installed on your device. In addition, Apple says the alarms require an Apple Watch Series 9 or later or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or newer. The feature does not seem to work with any Apple Watch SE models.
If you have a compatible device, you can get started as soon as you have downloaded and installed Watchos 26. You do not need to set the feature as it works passively and automatically in the background. With good luck you never need its help – but it’s good to know it’s there if you do.
