The Pixel Watch is elevating its health functionality by investigating new features that could turn it into a more all-encompassing health monitoring device. Google is currently evaluating a hypertension screening feature on the Pixel Watch, as noted in the most recent Fitbit app update. This advancement is part of the “Fitbit Hypertension Study,” which seeks to gather sensor information from the watch alongside user feedback to evaluate the device’s capacity to recognize elevated blood pressure levels.
Individuals participating in the study will fill out a questionnaire and permit the watch to collect health data unobtrusively. A chosen subset will also use a 24-hour blood pressure monitor for comparison, receiving around $50 for their involvement. This effort implies that Google is progressing towards embedding preventive health tools into its wearables.
Nonetheless, the ongoing data collection needed for this feature could result in greater battery consumption. The Pixel Watch’s strategy is anticipated to mirror Apple’s, where the device would notify users about possible hypertension rather than delivering precise blood pressure values.
Although there’s no assurance that this feature will be broadly accessible, the study highlights Google’s dedication to improving the health functionalities of the Pixel Watch. If it proves successful, hypertension screening would enhance current features like loss of pulse detection, Daily Readiness, and Cardio Load, establishing the Pixel Watch as a notable contender in digital health.
