Apple’s Awe Dropping event[1] started with dramatic health testimonials[2] from Apple Watch users, then revealed a key new feature for the new Watch Series 11: hypertension alerts. The function had yet to receive FDA approval at the time, but that has now been granted, according to Bloomberg[3]. As a result, it will reportedly be available to users in 150 countries when the Watch 11 and Ultra Watch 3 ship starting on September 19.
Hypertension alerts can help detect hypertension (high blood pressure), a potentially dangerous condition that affects over a billion people. The feature relies on the Watch’s optical heart sensor, but now uses new machine learning algorithm that also draws from a study involving more than 100,000 participants to look for high blood pressure. It works in the background a month-long period to seek patterns associated with hypertension. Unlike devices that measure your specific blood pressure[4], it only tells users that there may be a danger.
Last year, Apple received the FDA’s nod for its over-the-counter Hearing Aid function[5] that transforms the second-gen AirPods Pro[6] into OTC hearing aids for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Another recently approved feature is sleep apnea detection[7]. However, the company is currently facing a lawsuit[8] over the Apple Watch’s redesigned blood oxygen monitoring feature.
References
- ^ Awe Dropping event (www.engadget.com)
- ^ dramatic health testimonials (www.youtube.com)
- ^ Bloomberg (www.bloomberg.com)
- ^ measure your specific blood pressure (shop.yhetechs.com)
- ^ over-the-counter Hearing Aid function (www.engadget.com)
- ^ second-gen AirPods Pro (www.engadget.com)
- ^ sleep apnea detection (www.engadget.com)
- ^ facing a lawsuit (www.engadget.com)