Samsung Galaxy Watch users can now track blood pressure from their wrist

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 users in the United States can now measure their blood pressure directly from their wrist using the Samsung Health Monitor app. The feature launched today and works with compatible Galaxy Watch models.

The timing matters. Nearly 120 million American adults have high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's almost half of all adults in the country. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the U.S.

How does it work?

Samsung's blood pressure technology uses the watch's built-in heart rate sensors to measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The system calibrates values and tracks changes to estimate your blood pressure readings.

Users need to calibrate their Galaxy Watch with a traditional upper arm blood pressure cuff every 28 days. Samsung sells the cuff separately. The watch then measures:

• Systolic blood pressure
• Diastolic blood pressure
• Heart rate

The Galaxy Watch8 series includes two models - Galaxy Watch8 Classic and Galaxy Watch8. Both use advanced sensors and AI-powered features to track health metrics.

Why does it matter?

Samsung designed the feature to give users better insight into their health so they can make informed decisions about their lifestyle. The company says it's not intended to prevent or diagnose high blood pressure.

The blood pressure monitoring joins other health tools available on Galaxy watches:

• Sleep apnea detection (the first FDA-authorized feature of its kind)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) readings
• Irregular heart rhythm notifications
• Sleep tracking
• 24/7 heart rate monitoring

Samsung plans to add passive blood pressure monitoring later this year. This will show blood pressure trends over time without requiring active measurements.

The context

Samsung has been building its health monitoring capabilities as smartwatch competition intensifies. Apple Watch has offered ECG readings and irregular heart rhythm detection for several years.

The FDA has cleared Samsung's blood pressure monitoring technology, along with its sleep apnea detection and heart rhythm features. This regulatory approval is important for health-related smartwatch functions.

Samsung Health works across the company's devices to create what it calls an "end-to-end health and wellness platform." The app provides personalized insights and tracks multiple health metrics in one place.

Galaxy Watch8 Classic and Galaxy Watch8 are available now on Samsung.com. The blood pressure monitoring feature works with Galaxy Watch4 and newer models through the Samsung Health Monitor app.