High blood pressure affects 76.4 million Americans, according to the Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association. It can lead to serious medical complications like heart attacks, stroke, kidney disease and even cognitive decline if not treated. However, keeping an eye on your blood pressure isn’t always easy. Although your Apple Watch isn’t capable of giving you a direct blood pressure reading by itself, it can connect with a compatible blood pressure monitor.
Connecting a third-party blood pressure cuff to your Apple Watch makes it easier for you to keep track of your readings between doctor's visits. This won't replace doctor's checkups, but it does help you monitor your blood pressure through real-time insights and help collect your data, which can help your doctor better understand your numbers for your next appointment.
Here's how to use your Apple Watch to monitor blood pressure, along with compatible devices.
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How blood pressure measurement works with your Apple Watch
The Health app on your Apple Watch provides a convenient method to consolidate your blood pressure information in one location on a device that remains on your wrist most hours of the day.
While the smartwatch itself cannot directly measure your blood pressure alone, there are compatible tools and devices available that can pair with it. These devices, typically wireless monitors that link to your iPhone or Apple Watch, come with an arm cuff and a dedicated app, enabling seamless synchronization of data to your Apple Watch's Health app.
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Discover the top devices that can sync with your Apple Watch below.
Blood pressure devices that connect with your Apple Watch
Here are three wireless blood pressure monitors that sync to your Apple Watch's Health app.
- Omron Evolv Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor ($75): The portable monitor provides precise clinical readings and features a built-in display that conveniently shows your results. Through Bluetooth connectivity, the Omron BPM effortlessly syncs with your Apple Watch via the Omron Connect mobile app.
- Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor ($130): This upper arm monitor offers immediate color-coded feedback and generates a comprehensive chart of your previous measurements for easy monitoring. You can seamlessly connect your Withings BPM to your Apple Watch using Bluetooth.
- iHealth Feel Wireless Arm Blood Pressure Monitor ($50): The device can save up to 200 readings, and you can view your systolic and diastolic blood pressure via the iHealth App and see if your reading is normal or above average. The iHealth blood pressure monitor syncs to your Apple Watch using Bluetooth.
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How to get blood pressure control through exercise
Regular physical activity is widely recognized for promoting a strong and healthy heart, which can regulate blood pressure.
- Utilize your Apple Watch to monitor your daily step count and ensure you're meeting your targets.
- The smartwatch's sensor on the back can track your heart rate. A decrease in your resting heart rate indicates progress toward your fitness objectives.
- You can log your exercise with the watch, which offers a selection of 12 workouts or can automatically recognize your activity.
- During workouts, you can conveniently keep an eye on your heart rate and establish thresholds to alert you if it gets too high or low.
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Home blood pressure monitoring FAQs
What do I use if I need ambulatory blood pressure monitoring?
For a 24 hour monitoring, you'll need to get a referral from a doctor and they will help you find the appropriate device.
Is it better to use arm cuffs or wrist blood pressure monitors?
There are a lot more factors that can cause an inaccurate reading with wrist blood pressure monitors compared to upper arm blood pressure measuring devices. The arteries in the wrist are smaller, making it harder for the monitor to read the blood flow.
What should you do to when measuring blood pressure?
A few tips for getting a good reading when measuring blood pressure are:
- For 30 minutes before you measure no smoking, caffeine or exercise.
- For 5 minutes before, relax, sitting calmly.
- Take your medication before you measure.
- Look at your monitor and sit as it recommends.
- Always use the same arm.