What is a blood pressure watch? What aspects must be taken into account before opting for one? How does a smartwatch that measures blood pressure work?
Experts say that health is wealth. Eating healthy and exercising are two of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle.
But when we talk about exercise, how do you monitor your heart rate and blood pressure at the same time?
Although in the past the monitoring of these indicators required at least one visit to the doctor, today this is unnecessary.
Blood pressure smartwatches now help you monitor every beat of your heart. Monitoring blood pressure is useful to understand your physical condition and thus live healthy.
What is a blood pressure watch?
A smart watch is a wearable device geared to be worn on the wrist. Smartwatches, like phones, rely on touchscreens that offer applications, but often have more specific functions, such as recording heart rate and other vital signs.
While many smartwatches can measure heart rate, almost none are designed for medical purposes. The most accurate watches are certified and approved by the FDA. Even with this, a blood pressure monitor it can be more or less exact depending on how it is used.
What should you know before buying a smartwatch with a built-in blood pressure monitor?
If you are urgent to buy a smartwatch, there are some relevant points that you would like to take into account before making a decision:
- Don't choose a smartwatch without first confirming that it will work with your smartphone. For example, you should keep in mind that Apple watches only work with iPhone devices. For its part, Google's Wear OS platform and Samsung's Tizen units work as well as with Android and iOS.
- Opt for a watch with a heart rate sensor and GPS if you intend to use it during your physical activity.
- Battery life is another aspect to take into account. Hybrid smartwatches usually have a longer battery life, but do not have a touch screen.
- Make sure the clasp and buckle on the watch band are of high quality and that they are easy to wear and change. Also make sure it's easy to get extra replacement bands.
- While app selection is a factor, on top of that is compatibility, layout, and other features.
Important features of watches with blood pressure monitors
It is a fact that the smartwatch market is very saturated, that is why manufacturers try by all means to improve and develop new features that keep them positioned ahead of the competition. In addition to functions related to health and wellness, many smartwatches also act as physical activity trackers. Including features such as pedometer, heart rate, sleep or distance monitoring.
How do smartwatches work and measure blood pressure?
The popular fitness bands have many applications today. In addition to tracking calories burned, the number of steps and your physical progress, they can also be used as a valuable instrument for measuring blood pressure. Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the arteries, and is commonly associated with the frequency of the heartbeat and the elasticity of the arteries. Using a smartwatch with a blood pressure monitor can be crucial in detecting heart conditions and receiving a clear picture of the state of heart health.
Checking blood pressure at home is very easy. You can use a sphygmomanometer like the one used by the doctor in his office, a heart pressure monitor or a smart watch with a blood pressure monitor, but… how does a smart watch measure blood pressure?
Many bracelets and bangles that track physical activity typically take oscciolmeter readings of blood pressure. To accomplish this task, an electronic pressure sensor calculates the systolic and diabolic pressure estimates. Some models with a blood pressure monitor can use a PPG or a photoplethysmogram.
A PPG is a heart rate sensor that uses a pulse oximeter. You can also make use of ECG readings that work with algorithms. However, with no foolproof cuff available, the readings are not as accurate as those a professional can take at your medical facility.
