How To Measure Your Blood Pressure With An Apple Watch (2024)

Blood pressure is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of your arteries, which carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. It’s measured as systolic over diastolic, says Eric H. Bronstein, M.D., director of cardiothoracic surgery at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky.

Systolic pressure is the top number in a blood pressure measurement, representing the pressure exerted when your heart ejects or squeezes blood out to your body. Diastolic pressure, the bottom number in a blood pressure measurement, represents the pressure present when your heart relaxes to refill for the next beat, explains Dr. Bronstein.

Normal Blood Pressure Ranges

While it’s normal for blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day, normal blood pressure is marked by a systolic reading under 120-130 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and a diastolic reading under 80 mmHg, or 120-130/80 mmHg. High blood pressure, called hypertension, is defined by blood pressure readings consistently exceeding 140/90 mmHg.

“At this time, the Apple Watch isn’t equipped to measure your blood pressure alone,” says Dr. Bronstein. “ [It] requires pairing with a [separate blood pressure measuring] device to measure and record your blood pressure.” However, a standalone blood pressure monitor by Apple with monitoring capabilities is in the works, he adds.

Over the years, technology used in digital blood pressure monitors (also known as oscillometric devices) has improved, making these devices for personal use increasingly accurate.

The market for at-home blood pressure monitors is vast; however, not all are compatible with the Apple Watch or can sync with a person’s Health app on their iPhone. Some that do sync with the Apple Watch include the Withings BPM Connect Wi-Fi Smart Blood Pressure Monitor and many OMRON Series products, such as the 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor. Other Apple-friendly blood pressure monitors recommended by Dr. Bronstein include:

• QardioArm Wireless BP Monitor
• iHealth Feel Wireless Arm BP Monitor
• A&D Medical Ultraconnect Wireless Wrist BP Monitor

Measuring blood pressure in conjunction with an Apple Watch depends on the specific monitor you use. For example, to use the OMRON 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor, follow the step-by-step process below:

• Set up the wireless arm cuff (following the in-box instructions). In your iPhone settings, make sure the monitor isn’t connected to Bluetooth. If you need to unpair the device from your Bluetooth list, unpair it by selecting “Forget This Device.”
• Download and set up the OMRON Connect app on your Apple Watch. Tap on the app’s plus icon, and go to your profile to connect a new device. Follow the instructions to add and pair the monitor. Now, you can take and store readings on your Apple Watch when using the wireless cuff.
• While you can add blood pressure data manually under the “Heart” category in your Health app on your iPhone, you can also sync and store readings automatically via the monitor’s app. To do so, enable data sharing with other apps.

While there’s no danger or risk of injury in using an Apple Watch to monitor blood pressure, Dr. Bronstein does caution that results may be inaccurate. The accuracy of at-home blood pressure monitors can be affected easily by several factors, including recent activity, anxiety, timing of medications, arm positioning during the reading and using the correct arm cuff size, he explains.

Consider Dr. Bronstein’s few simple lifestyle adaptation tips below to improve your heart health and therefore keep your blood pressure in check.

Eat a Healthy Diet

A diet rich in whole grains and vegetables and low in saturated and trans fats may help reduce risk of hypertension, according to a 2020 study in Nutrients^[1]Kashino I, Eguchi M, Miki T, et al. Prospective association between whole grain consumption and hypertension: the furukawa nutrition and health study. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):902. . Dr. Bronstein recommends consuming less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. Ideally, he suggests keeping sodium intake under 1,500 milligrams per day, as research suggests a link between high sodium intake and higher blood pressure.

Exercise Regularly

Research consistently highlights the importance of aerobic exercise for heart health. In fact, an increase in physical activity is associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality and a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, according to a 2018 study in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. This association is due in part to the heart-strengthening effects of physical activity and its ability to help promote a healthy weight, thereby reducing further strain on the heart^[2]Nystoriak MA, Bhatnagar A. Cardiovascular effects and benefits of exercise. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2018;5:135. .

Stop Smoking and Limit Alcohol Consumption

Nicotine in cigarettes can be partly responsible for an increase in blood pressure in a person who smokes. Alcohol, on the other hand, raises blood pressure by increasing the constriction of blood vessels and accelerating the heart rate, as well as reducing magnesium and potassium contents in the kidneys. Research suggests smoking cessation and reducing alcohol consumption can help lower hypertension risk.

Reduce Stress

While acute stress can lead to blood pressure spikes, chronic psychosocial stress is linked to hypertension as well. Factors including work-related stress, marital strain and lower socioeconomic status can be contributing factors to high blood pressure, according to research.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep naturally decreases blood pressure. Sticking to a regular sleep schedule and keeping rooms dark and cool at night are a couple of ways to promote a good night’s sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Home monitoring [can also] help you keep tabs on your blood pressure and give you valuable feedback on how your lifestyle changes are having an impact,” adds Dr. Bronstein.

Your blood pressure should be monitored by a health care provider regularly if your blood pressure fluctuates, if you have a family history of hypertension or if you’re pregnant.

If your blood pressure reaches the hypertensive category and remains high after taking a repeat measurement five minutes later, call a health care provider without hesitation, advises Dr. Bronstein. If you experience symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, visual changes or difficulty speaking, seek emergency help, as these symptoms could be signs of a heart attack, stroke or vascular injury.