I am surprised it has taken so long for Apple to introduce blood pressure monitoring in the watch considering that others have mastered this some time ago. One such device, which I now wear, has been out for a couple of years, and is accurate. If the manufacturer of such can achieve this it is a little surprising Apple have taken so long to bearing in mind their research and ingenuity. Unless of course it is regulatory issues in the USA that holds them up. I would much rather have one device, the Apple Watch, doing all the monitoring and not have two.
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Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Thread starter G4RHL
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No problem. Called HiLo. Manufactured by Aktiia, who I think are a Swiss company. I think it is just about to get approval in the USA. You can read all about if you simply google the name.
I started wearing it about 3.5 weeks ago. I needed something as BP is on the high side and BP pills are not reducing it much. I have compared its readings with those from a standard cuff and they are close, close enough to be acceptable. Indeed, getting closer as it learns. What it has highlighted is my BP goes up in the early hours when fast asleep. Sadly not because of exciting dreams!
The technology behind it was developed some years ago and I think they got it to a standard to be released about two years ago. I am sure Apple cannot be far behind them. MacRumors suggests the Apple Watch will only warn a wearer of hypertension. That is strange for it ought to be able to read diastolic, systolic and heart rate as the HiLo does. I would be surprised, indeed disappointed if Apple don't do that with the next watch.
I started wearing it about 3.5 weeks ago. I needed something as BP is on the high side and BP pills are not reducing it much. I have compared its readings with those from a standard cuff and they are close, close enough to be acceptable. Indeed, getting closer as it learns. What it has highlighted is my BP goes up in the early hours when fast asleep. Sadly not because of exciting dreams!
The technology behind it was developed some years ago and I think they got it to a standard to be released about two years ago. I am sure Apple cannot be far behind them. MacRumors suggests the Apple Watch will only warn a wearer of hypertension. That is strange for it ought to be able to read diastolic, systolic and heart rate as the HiLo does. I would be surprised, indeed disappointed if Apple don't do that with the next watch.
Thanks…. I have added it to my Amazon list. I will wait until Apple release news on the Ultra 3 before deciding. Appreciate the info. 👍
That could be a sign that you have sleep apnea, so talk about this with your doctor or cardiologist.
See a doctor. Do not trust your health to a toy watch.
Here is the website for Hilo.
hilo.com
I may be wrong (and I hope I am) but, I don't see Apple including BP monitoring with the Ultra 3. I think we will get the feature with Ultra 4.
Hilo Band | Hilo
Our clinically validated 24/7 monitor measures your blood pressure day and night so you don’t have to. This latest version features a waterproof design and seamless Hilo App integration for real-time, personalised health insights.
hilo.com
I may be wrong (and I hope I am) but, I don't see Apple including BP monitoring with the Ultra 3. I think we will get the feature with Ultra 4.
Well, that HiLo device has roughly the same size/volume as the whole Apple Watch, so to integrate this sort of technology would probably make the Watch twice as big.
^^This! It gotta fit into the AW for factor.
Even if the hypothetical AW would require monthly calibration I would love to see continuous measurements, trends etc, way better compared to the occasional measurements we have today…
Blood pressure measured at the wrist, with any device (including hospital-grade), is not nearly as accurate as the bicep.
Based upon what?Here is the website for Hilo.
Hilo Band | Hilo
Our clinically validated 24/7 monitor measures your blood pressure day and night so you don’t have to. This latest version features a waterproof design and seamless Hilo App integration for real-time, personalised health insights.
I may be wrong (and I hope I am) but, I don't see Apple including BP monitoring with the Ultra 3. I think we will get the feature with Ultra 4.
I just heard of another technique that might be applicable to the Watch. It looks at the difference in time of arrival for the electrical signal of a heatbeat (almost instantaneous) and the following increase of blood in the artery. The higher the BP the shorter the delay. Clever idea.
interestingengineering.com
New wearable blood pressure patch offers hospital-grade accuracy
New skin-like patch tracks blood pressure in real time, promising a cuff-free future for smart, wearable healthcare.
interestingengineering.com
The hardware technology is exactly the same used for blood oxygen, so it is already on the watch.
The accuracy of the estimated BP reading is another matter altogether though.
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You are talking about two different methods of reading BP.
Traditional methods involve an inflating cuff, positioned either on the arm or at the wrist. With this method you are correct in saying that readings made on the arm are more accurate.
The method used by this device utilises the blood density to estimate BP (much in the same way it reads oxygen levels) Photoplethysmography.
I am however sceptical that this could provide accurate results.
It is called Photoplethysmography. Google it.
Edit: perhaps I should not have used the expression “exactly the same”, but they are substantially equal.
The point being that it would not be any larger than any pulse oximeter, such as the one already on the AW.
EDIT: my clumsy suggestion to “Google it” was made because this would provide anyone interested, with a large amount of information and studies about this technology. Much more and much better than I would be able to convey in my own words. Sorry if that sounded abrupt.
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There are a number of things you shouldn't have said, 'Google it' being one of them. It's perfectly acceptable to be right, or have the assumption of being correct, but the tone in which you suggest it, doesn't encourage good discussion/debate, but rather leaves the reader with a particular viewpoint towards you.
Here is a published paper, on the use of PPG. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7141397/
I am sorry my reply could be interpreted as being confrontational.
My intention was to point out that once I have provided the name of the technology it is easier for anyone interested to Google the name and find out everything there is to know about it, as opposed to taking my word or interpretation for it.
I will remember to make this point clearer in the future.
It could be extrapolated from your comment, that the leg would therefore be a better place to record from, but no, the leg gives poor readings, partly due to the distance from the ascending thoracic aorta, and that being the source of 'expansion' of the arterial blood vessels.
However, we are talking about PPG's here, not sphygmomanometry. Accuracy is determined with PPG, by the light waves reflected back, and the amplitude of the flow volume.
I know PPG, thanks. But to say the hardware, sensors and beyond, is „exactly the same“, gave the impression you had intricate knowledge of the HiLo device; apparently not.
But let‘s speculate that, if the needed tech is already inside the Watch, why would Apple not have implemented blood pressure reading already? I mean, it would be a great way to sell new Watches. Software patents (like that Masimo conundrum)? Measurements not precise enough for Apple standards?
By the way, so that I can avoid repeating mistakes, which other things I should not have said?
The rules of the forums, that have been pointed out to many of us in the past (me included), is to steer away from telling other members to go elsewhere to source the information, but rather to help educate each other, in a polite friendly manner. There is so much hate in this world right now, that a little bit of love and understanding for each other is so vital. Technology is emotive at times, with viewpoints often based on one's education, passions, and experiences, which in all of us, differ.
As a medic, it would be great to have the ability to have an indication of someones blood pressure, and I think in this case, as the technology evolves, Apple are trying to stick with recognising sustained hypertension, so as to provide a similar feedback loop, to what it does with Atrial Fibrillation (Notice I don't say AF, as their is also a thing called Atrial Flutter).
But I guess we are all waiting to see where Apple is going with health related metrics, and what it introduces in September.
My guess (and it is a guess) is that there are issues surrounding patents for the method/technology applied.