Hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure, is a serious health problem. It's one of the biggest drivers of heart disease, strokes and kidney problems, but it's a silent assassin: it often develops with very few symptoms. Enter wearables like the Apple Watch, now complete with the new hypertension-detection feature announced during the launch of this year's crop of new devices.
The tool works passively in the background of the best Apple watches (Series 9 and up), using an optical heart-rate sensor to analyse data and spot patterns that may point to raised blood pressure. It’s not a cuff-based reading or a medical diagnosis, but it can alert you to changes you might otherwise overlook and prompt you to speak with your doctor.
