Health Apps On Series 6

[FelicityW]

I bought a Series 6 watch for an elderly client who needs to track her blood pressure. She has had some ‘cheap’ watches and when the last one proved too difficult to put on, I talked her into an Apple Watch. Never in my wildest imaginings did I expect to find out that the Watch cannot measure blood pressure (at least by itself). She has had three watches that could take her blood pressure. I thought the fact that it can measure blood oxygen meant BP was already checked off.

Is there an app? Anything that will get the egg off my face? An external cuff is stupid - who needs a watch for that? Same thing is easily accomplished with just an iPhone.

I am casting about to understand how such a no brainer eluded Apple. It feels like iTags where the concept is so simple, the fact that it is 5 years or more after competitors seems daft.

What gives?

 

[jz0309]

I bought a Series 6 watch for an elderly client who needs to track her blood pressure. She has had some ‘cheap’ watches and when the last one proved too difficult to put on, I talked her into an Apple Watch. Never in my wildest imaginings did I expect to find out that the Watch cannot measure blood pressure (at least by itself). She has had three watches that could take her blood pressure. I thought the fact that it can measure blood oxygen meant BP was already checked off.

Is there an app? Anything that will get the egg off my face? An external cuff is stupid - who needs a watch for that? Same thing is easily accomplished with just an iPhone.

I am casting about to understand how such a no brainer eluded Apple. It feels like iTags where the concept is so simple, the fact that it is 5 years or more after competitors seems daft.

What gives?

why did you assume that it could? 2-3 min of research and you would have known ...

and the cuffs that you put above your wrist to take blood pressure, the ones I have seen, are significantly larger than a watch band, and, to the best of my knowledge, there are no sensors yet that can measure blood pressure.

I think you need to take the blame for that advice of yours and learn your lesson, sorry ...

 

[FelicityW]

Why did I assume? Because the Apple I know (my first computer was the 1984 MacIntosh in 1984) was ahead of everyone else. The number of no-name watches that measure blood pressure are at least six. A cuff is a huge inconvenience. Let me guess... you chose to chastise me without any real empathy or understanding of the issue. Must be a millenial...

 

[jz0309]

here is actually a smartwatch blood pressure "cuff", still has the bladder thing, not a sensor

Omron HeartGuide: My life with a blood pressure smartwatch

The future of health tech might be blood pressure. But Omron's solution won't be for everyone.

www.cnet.com

 

[jz0309]

Why did I assume? Because the Apple I know (my first computer was the 1984 MacIntosh in 1984) was ahead of everyone else. The number of no-name watches that measure blood pressure are at least six. A cuff is a huge inconvenience. Let me guess... you chose to chastise me without any real empathy or understanding of the issue. Must be a millenial...

sorry, no empathy for someone spending $400+ for a tech tool assuming it can do things without research, it took me 2 min to find one if you look at my previous post. You should own up to your mistake, and no, I'm not a millennial, you are mistaken

 

[jz0309]

and here is a google search for you:

blood pressure on apple watch

 

[FelicityW]

Thank you for your efforts. I have done all of that (remember, I have been on computers over 40 years). I was looking for an explanation like they didn't own the appropriate patents, it wasn't accurate enough, the person in charge left for a competitor.

P.S. I worked in Silicon Valley for 30 years and my last town before leaving CA was Cupertino.

 

[FelicityW]

sorry, no empathy for someone spending $400+ for a tech tool assuming it can do things without research, it took me 2 min to find one if you look at my previous post. You should own up to your mistake, and no, I'm not a millennial, you are mistaken

You have missed the point entirely. Here are 20 watches that can do it. https://www.thetrendspotter.net/blood-pressure-watches/
Why can’t Apple? That’s the point. I was not asking for sympathy, I can return it easily. I have been in tech since before you were born. I have owned more Apple devices than you are old. My question was an honest puzzlement. Your response never took into account the actual question I asked. All you wanted to do was chastise me. Wow.

 

[jz0309]

You have missed the point entirely. Here are 20 watches that can do it. https://www.thetrendspotter.net/blood-pressure-watches/
Why can’t Apple? That’s the point. I was not asking for sympathy, I can return it easily. I have been in tech since before you were born. I have owned more Apple devices than you are old. My question was an honest puzzlement. Your response never took into account the actual question I asked. All you wanted to do was chastise me. Wow.

do your homework, blood pressure devices/cuffs need FDA approval, AW does not have that for anything.
And you need not to belittle me, you did not do your research before getting your client an Apple Watch. You are asking for apps so that you can save your face ... you assumed AW can measure blood pressureid, own up to that.

 

[Hamster100]

You have missed the point entirely. Here are 20 watches that can do it. https://www.thetrendspotter.net/blood-pressure-watches/
Why can’t Apple? That’s the point. I was not asking for sympathy, I can return it easily. I have been in tech since before you were born. I have owned more Apple devices than you are old. My question was an honest puzzlement. Your response never took into account the actual question I asked. All you wanted to do was chastise me. Wow.

Yep. My friend has a £40 Fitness Tracker from Amazon that can measure Blood Oxygen, Heart rate AND Blood Pressure. So my question is why can’t my £400+ Apple Watch 6 also measure Blood Pressure. I thought maybe Apple are just holding this back until the Apple Watch 7 to justify another upgrade. (Like the Blood Oxygen) ??!