With the launch of the Apple Watch Series 11 along with iOS 26, Apple announced that hypertension notifications were coming to compatible devices, including Series 9 and later and Ultra 2 and later models. But the feature was awaiting Health Canada clearance north of the border. That has now been granted, and you’ll find hypertension notifications as an update in your app.
Hypertension notifications alert you if signs of chronic high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, are detected. Hypertension, Apple notes, is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, impacting approximately 1.3 billion adults globally. It frequently goes undiagnosed, however, because there are no symptoms. Even at a clinical visit, it can be easily missed.
Hypertension notifications on Apple Watch uses data from the optical heart sensor to analyze how your blood vessels respond to the beats of the heart. The algorithm works passively in the background reviewing data over 30-day periods. You will only receive a notification if there is detection that is consistent with signs of hypertension. If so, it’s recommended to log your blood pressure using a third-party blood pressure cuff and share the results with your medical doctor at the next visit. The Health app now includes a logging experience to support you with cuff measurements, which includes classifications based on local guidelines. You will also get a detailed report to share with your healthcare provider.
To set up hypertension notifications, visit the Health app on iPhone. Following an app update, you’ll see the option where you can confirm you are over the age of 22, have not been previously diagnosed with hypertension, or aren’t pregnant. It also provides details about how data is calculated and what it means so you’re informed before getting started.
“Hypertension affects approximately eight million Canadians — about one in four — and this number will only grow as our population ages,” says Dr. Heather Ross, Head of Cardiology at University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. “Despite being treatable, it frequently goes undetected and is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease, including stroke, coronary disease, dementia, and heart failure. One of the greatest challenges is improving screening to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment. That’s why hypertension notifications on Apple Watch are a true breakthrough and could be a real game changer.”
The feature was developed with advanced machine learning and training data from multiple studies totalling over 100,000 participants. Its performance was then validated in a clinical study of over 2,000 participants. While hypertension notifications will not detect all instances of hypertension, with the reach of Apple Watch, the feature is expected to notify over one-million people with undiagnosed hypertension within the first year.