In today’s health-conscious world, it feels like everyone is wearing some kind of fitness tracker—whether it’s a smartwatch, a ring, or another fancy device promising to keep tabs on our health.
These wearables have become super popular, especially for people trying to stay active or get early warnings about health problems.
But here’s the catch: when it comes to tracking blood pressure, some of these gadgets might be doing more harm than good.
A Wake-Up Call from Scientists
Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine recently reviewed how reliable these wearable devices really are—specifically those that claim to track blood pressure.
The results were pretty concerning.
They found that many of these trackers often give incorrect readings.
That’s a big deal because high blood pressure doesn’t usually have any symptoms, yet it’s a major risk factor for things like strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease, and even dementia.
If a device tells someone their blood pressure is fine when it’s actually high, that person might delay getting the help they need.
The researchers’ advice?
Don’t rely solely on wearable devices.
Stick with the good old inflatable arm cuff—yes, the one doctors have used for decades.
High Blood Pressure Is More Common Than You Think
In England alone, NHS data shows that over four million people could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure.
That’s a scary number, considering how dangerous the condition can be if left unchecked.
Often called a “silent killer,” high blood pressure can be quietly damaging your body without you even knowing.
It’s estimated that around a third of all adults have it, but many of them don’t even know it.
The NHS recommends that adults aged 40 to 74 get their blood pressure checked at least once every five years.
The problem is, not enough people are actually doing it—only about 39% take up the offer.
The Push to Catch the ‘Missing Millions’
The NHS believes that offering 2.5 million extra blood pressure checks could help identify 250,000 more people who need treatment.
That’s a huge win, potentially preventing 3,700 strokes, 2,500 heart attacks, and saving 2,000 lives over the next five years.
Fitness trackers were once seen as a promising way to improve these numbers.
After all, one in four people owns one.
Studies show they encourage extra steps, more activity, and even a small drop in body weight.
They can track all sorts of health info—heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep patterns, steps, and some can even run electrocardiograms (ECGs).
So it’s easy to understand why people hoped they could reliably monitor blood pressure too.
Why Wearables Might Not Be Ready for Blood Pressure Monitoring
Unfortunately, blood pressure isn’t so easy to measure accurately.
The University of Washington researchers didn’t test the devices themselves.
Instead, they looked at existing studies that compared these wearables to standard arm cuffs during everyday activities, sleep, and after taking medication.
What they found was that many of these wearable devices need to be calibrated using a traditional cuff—and if users don’t recalibrate regularly, the readings can drift and become unreliable.
They also tend to struggle in certain conditions like during exercise, sleep, or any sudden blood pressure changes.
Plus, the accuracy can be affected by things like skin tone (because the sensors rely on light), body size, and existing health conditions like diabetes or irregular heart rhythms.
To make things worse, a lot of these gadgets haven’t gone through proper independent testing before hitting the market.
Don’t Be Fooled by Fancy Numbers
The big takeaway from the researchers is this: don’t let a sleek screen and a digital number fool you.
Just because it looks accurate doesn’t mean it is.
Dr. Eugene Yang, a cardiologist involved in the review, said while cuffless devices are definitely appealing, they still have a long way to go before they’re ready to be used in clinical settings.
The NHS Is Making It Easier to Get Checked
Thankfully, the NHS is taking steps to catch more cases of high blood pressure.
Under the Pharmacy First programme, adults aged 40 and over can now pop into their local pharmacy for a free blood pressure check—no appointment needed.
Last year, the government launched a campaign specifically aimed at finding the “missing millions” with undiagnosed hypertension.
Then-health minister Andrea Leadsom encouraged everyone to take advantage of the free tests, reminding the public that knowing your blood pressure could literally save your life.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Guess, Get Checked
Wearable tech is cool and convenient, but when it comes to something as serious as blood pressure, it’s still not reliable enough to replace traditional methods.
So don’t leave it to chance.
If you’re over 40—or just haven’t had your blood pressure checked in a while—why not take a few minutes and get it done the old-fashioned way?
It’s simple, free, and just might save your life.