Samsung Rolls Out Blood Pressure Tracking for Galaxy Watch Users in the U.S.
Samsung has begun the rollout of a long-awaited feature for its Galaxy Watch users in the United States: blood pressure tracking. After several years of availability in other countries, this feature is now accessible for owners of Galaxy Watch 4 models or later, provided that the watch is running at least WatchOS 4.0. With this upgrade, users can monitor not only their heart rate but also systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.
How the Blood Pressure Monitoring Works
It is important to note that the blood pressure feature does not allow the Galaxy Watches to measure blood pressure autonomously. Instead, the watches require an additional third-party cuff to establish baseline blood pressure levels. Users will also need to recalibrate this setup every 28 days, a limitation that had already been a part of Samsung’s original launch in South Korea over six years ago.
Navigating Regulatory Challenges
The introduction of this feature in the U.S. market seems to have circumvented some regulatory hurdles by categorizing it as a “wellness feature” rather than a medical tool. This strategic move is reminiscent of a similar approach taken by the fitness tracker brand Whoop last year as they sought to expand their health tracking abilities without being constrained by stringent FDA approvals.
Accessing the Feature Through the Samsung Health Monitor App
To utilize the blood pressure tracking feature, Galaxy Watch users will need to download the Samsung Health Monitor app. This application is compatible with Galaxy phones operating on Android 12 or later. In a further enhancement, Samsung plans to introduce a passive monitoring feature later this year, allowing users to observe trends in their blood pressure over time.
A Phased Rollout
Samsung has described the U.S. rollout as “phased,” suggesting that it may take some time for the feature to reach all eligible Galaxy Watch owners. Nevertheless, many users are likely to agree that better late than never is a fitting sentiment in this case.
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