Health and fitness tracking is becoming more crucial with time. That’s why medical technology is expanding more rapidly. Now you will get a blood pressure monitor, ECG, and heart rate tracking in a smartwatch.
Most smartwatches in the market include a blood pressure monitor, which is useful for those who need to check their blood pressure regularly. But is the blood pressure reading on your smartwatch accurate?
In this article, we will talk about how a smartwatch measures blood pressure and does it show accurate readings.
Table of Contents
Does A Smartwatch Measure Blood Pressure Accurately?
Yes, most smartwatches use PPG sensors to measure blood pressure. But you can’t use these devices for medical purposes because the majority of such devices show inaccurate results.
Blood pressure is something difficult to implement in smartwatches. This feature requires a more stable wrist to get accurate results. But in smartwatches, it’s very difficult to achieve.
Secondly, FAD does not approve smartwatches that offer blood pressure monitoring. Big brands like Apple, Fitbit, and Garmin devices lack these features.
Two Types Of Technologies For Blood Pressure Monitoring
According to GorillaFitnessWatches.com, there are two types of technologies used for blood pressure monitoring in smartwatches; PAT and PPG.
When a pulse wave travels from one arterial site to another, it is called the PAT. Blood pressure is directly proportional to this speed.
PAT is the most common method of measuring blood pressure without a cuff. Some devices already have FDA approval for using this method. With PAT, blood pressure monitors still need to be calibrated frequently.
On the other hand, PPG uses inertial and optical sensors to examine the blood flow patterns in the body. Using this technology, you can measure the blood flow rate by measuring how much light is absorbed or reflected by blood vessels.
However, the relationship between the PPG signal and blood pressure is non-linear. To convert this blood flow information into a blood pressure measurement, Valencell uses a machine-learning algorithm.
How To Measure Blood Pressure With Smartwatch Using Third Party Cuffs
You can take blood pressure on Apple watches and Galaxy watches via a third-party cuff. As a result, you can create a reliable baseline for your blood pressure and assess when and why your blood pressure goes up or down.
It is easy to use and can be charged about 80 times with the iHealth Feel Wireless Bluetooth Blood Pressure Monitor.
Moreover, the QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor is paired with your phone or watch and displays results using a color-coded system.
Does New Apple Watch Series 8 Come With Blood Pressure Monitoring?
According to resources, the upcoming Apple Series 8 has many powerful sensors. We can expect to see a new blood pressure sensor this time. Apple knows that this feature is more in demand in the market. But it’s still not confirmed because accurate blood pressure monitoring is difficult to implement in smartwatches.
The Journal and Bloomberg reported that they included glucose monitoring, sleep apnea detection, and blood pressure monitoring. However, these features are unlikely to appear in the Apple Watch for many years.
A report by Bloomberg indicated that the blood pressure tool would not be available until 2024.
According to the Journal, the blood pressure tech would measure the speed of a heartbeat wave through an artery.
Unlike traditional blood pressure monitoring cuffs, it would not provide baseline measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Instead, it tells you how your blood pressure is trending.
Regulatory authorities previously approved it in South Korea and Europe, where the Galaxy Watch 4 has a similar blood pressure feature.
Also Read: How To Connect Your Apple Watch To Bluetooth Headphones
