Can I measure my blood pressure with Apple Watch? No, neither Apple Watch Series 2, Series 3, Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, SE, nor Series 7 can independently take blood pressure measurements.
In order to for you to be able to track BP using the Apple Watch, you will need to connect to a BP monitor compatible with the Apple Watch.
Ensure the monitor you connect with your Apple Watch is medically approved for medical purposes.
We would recommend the QardioArm as it has undergone clinical testing, has a CE mark, and is approved by the FDA.
How Do I Measure Blood Pressure with Apple Watch?
To be able to measure your blood pressure using the Apple Watch you will need a companion app that supports Apple Watch and a smart blood pressure monitor preferably the QardioArm monitor.
The companion app you will download for blood pressure results is the Qardio App which is available for free in the Apple Store (download it on your iPhone or iPad).
Once the app is successfully downloaded enable it for your Apple Watch. All that is measured by the QardioArm smart blood pressure monitor is recorded on your Qardio account and only you can access the data.
Apart from the QardioArm smart blood pressure monitor, you can also use the Apple Watch with the A&D Medical UltraConnect Wireless Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor, and iHealth Feel Wireless Arm Blood Pressure Monitor among others. Let’s briefly discuss each of these monitors.
3 Best Blood Pressure Monitors that Work with Apple Watch
QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor | A&D Medical UltraConnect Blood Pressure Monitor | iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor |
Measures: blood pressure, irregular heartbeat & heart rate. | Measures: blood pressure | Measures: blood pressure, pulse waves, arrhythmia & irregular heartbeat. |
iOS, Android | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
Now Available on Amazon | Now Available on Amazon | Now Available on Amazon |
Provided below are the 3 blood pressure monitor devices that connect to Apple Watches to measure blood pressure.
1. QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor (Editor’s Choice)
You can easily sync the QardioArm smart BP monitor and monitor your blood pressure from the comfort of your home.
The monitor features a wireless setup – it connects to your iPhone or Android device (iOS 10.0 or later, Kindle, Android 5 or later, Android Wear, and Apple Watch) wireless through the Qardio App which is offered free.
The blood pressure you get from this monitor is accurate. Its accuracy is +/- 3 mmHg of blood pressure readout value, and +/- 5% of readout value for a pulse.
The monitor is lightweight hence you can carry it along on a trip or to the office. Apart from monitoring your blood pressure, the device can detect an irregular heartbeat.
Your blood pressure results are secure and only you can share them with your doctor and relatives via the Qardio app or to your doctor through email.
Tip: QardioArm smart blood pressure monitor is cleared by both Canada Health and FDA. To add it has a clinically tested and has a CE mark.
2. A&D Medical UltraConnect Wireless Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
The A&D Medical UltraConnect Wireless Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor is a light blood pressure monitor that syncs fast with the Apple Watch to monitor blood pressure.
Like QardioArm smart BP monitor, the A&D UltraConnect wireless wrist BP monitor is FDA approved and clinically tested for accuracy.
The monitor features fit and movement sensors to ensure correct positioning for accurate BP readings are taken.
You can privately track your blood pressure and share it with your relatives and friends plus your doctor via the A&Q Medical app.
3. iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor
The iHealth Wireless Blood Pressure monitor is compatible with Apple iOS devices (requires iOS version 8.0 or higher) and Android devices (requires operating system 4.4 or later).
This blood monitor cuff can provide fast and reliable blood pressure reading all the time, any time.
Apart from detecting your blood pressure, the device can detect pulse waves, arrhythmia, and irregular heartbeat hence a perfect companion for people concerned with hypertension.
The cuff is lightweight and hence portable (a carry bag is included in the package as well).
It features a built-in battery that is rechargeable saving you the cost of replacing batteries.
Your blood pressure results are only visible to you via the iHealth app. Only you can share your reports with friends, relatives, and your doctor via the app.
How Do I Start a Blood Pressure Measurement with Apple Watch?
Taking your blood pressure using the Apple Watch, companion app, and smart blood pressure monitor is very simple. Do the following:
- Open the Qardio app on your Apple Watch.
- Fit the QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure monitor on the upper left arm.
- Once you are ready to inflate press the start button to initiate measurements.
In addition, you can always set up a reminder through the Apple Watch and track your blood pressure measurement history too.
Is Measuring Blood Pressure with Apple Watch Accurate?
Apple Watch is among the smartwatches that are so good at measuring blood pressure provided it is connected to a medically tested and approve blood pressure monitoring device like the QardioArm cuff.
The QardioArm monitor cuff is approved by both Canada Health and FDA with a CE mark.
It is also used by most doctors and used in most heart health studies and for that reason, it is a monitor you or a doctor can trust when it comes to accurate results.
Does Apple Watch have Blood Pressure Sensors?
Even though Apple includes several health sensors on its Watches (for example heart rate sensors, blood oxygen sensors, electrocardiograms, etc.) it fails to include the blood pressure sensor.
This simply implies that unless Apple Watches are connected to third-party devices they cannot monitor blood pressure.
Fortunately, according to Mark Gurman Apple is looking forward to including the blood pressure sensor and other sensors in the near future – early 2024.
The future Apple Watch will also be able to track your blood glucose and blood alcohol (these will need governmental approval before release to the general public).
Even though the Apple Watch cannot track blood pressure on its own it can track hypertension with the help of the electrocardiogram and heart rate sensor which is good news for people concerned with hypertension.
Tip: Apple Watch can give users an idea of their blood pressure because research shows that increased heart rate is associated with increased peripheral blood pressure, which increases the risk of cardiovascular illnesses, and that is modifiable.
Also, find out whether Fitbit Watch among other activity trackers can track your daily blood pressure independently without third-party devices.