Eliana Willis

Nina Raemont/ZDNETApple’s Hypertension Detection feature could be the reason you learn about your high blood pressure. The feature is available on the latest lineup of Apple Watches that the tech giant unveiled earlier this month, but it’s also available on later models updated to WatchOS 26. Hypertension Detection recently received FDA clearance, validating the feature’s clinical ability to detect hypertension in Apple Watch wearers. In developing the feature, Apple used data from more than 100,000 study participants to understand hypertension’s presence in the body.Also: Apple just got FDA clearance for Hypertension Detection – does your watch support it?Hypertension Detection monitors blood pressure over a 30-day period to measure blood volume. After 30 days, the user receives a rating that indicates whether their blood pressure is above or below the hypertension threshold. This feature does not monitor daily or hourly blood pressure and can’t take momentary readings. Instead, it’s a detection mechanism that views blood pressure activity longitudinally. The idea behind the longer monitoring period is that a one-time blood pressure reading doesn’t offer a full picture of blood pressure health in the same way as a 30-day monitoring period. Which watches support Hypertension Detection? Apple unveiled the Hypertension Detection feature on the new Series 11 and Ultra 3. The feature is also available through WatchOS 26. The smartwatches that can be updated to the latest software include Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Ultra 2 and later. The Apple Watches SE do not have this feature. How to enable Hypertension Notifications Go to the Health app on your iPhone. Select the Search button, then select the Heart tab. Scroll down to “Get More From Health” and select “Set Up” for hypertension notifications. Go back to the Health app’s main screen, and tap your Profile in the top right corner. Tap Features and then Health Checklist. Then select “Onboard hypertension notifications.” How to use Hypertension Notifications An Apple Watch user will wear the watch for 30 days. After 30 days, Apple Watch will notify them of whether their blood pressure is within or above the hypertension threshold. If their 30-day average is indeed above the hypertension threshold, Apple suggests consulting with a doctor to review the hypertension data the watch collected. A doctor may suggest that the user take daily readings with a traditional blood pressure monitoring cuff, since the Apple Watch cannot take by-the-minute blood pressure readings. Also: I tested the Apple Watch Series 11 for a week – here’s my buying advice nowApple Watch users can log their daily diastolic blood pressure readings through the same Hypertension feature. Apple Watch users can export that log into a PDF to send to a doctor. Want to follow my work? Add ZDNET as a trusted source on Google More

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In iOS 26, Apple gives you a few different ways to manage calls from numbers you haven’t saved. The default setting, Never, lets unknown calls ring through and appear in your Recents list. Silence goes the other way, sending all unknown calls straight to voicemail without bothering you. The middle option, Ask Reason for Calling, prompts the caller to say who they are and why they’re calling, then delivers you a quick transcript so you can decide whether to pick up or ignore it.Also: Got iOS 26? Turn on this iPhone setting to make your screenshots instantly better – here’s howIn the Phone menu, scroll until you see Screen Unknown Callers. There, you’ll find the three options:Never: Calls from unsaved numbers ring through, and missed calls appear in your Recents list.Ask Reason for Calling: Unsaved numbers are asked for more information before your iPhone rings. Calling and data rates may apply.Silence: Unsaved numbers are silenced, sent to voicemail, and logged in Recents. Calling and data rates may apply.I really like using Ask Reason for Calling. I’ve found it successfully weeds out spam calls while still giving me the chance to answer legitimate ones I might not want to miss. If you’re like me and get overwhelmed with robocalls during the week, this setting is worth a try. Or go with Silence for total peace of mind — just know you might miss important calls, though the caller can always leave a voicemail.Either way, you can change your setting anytime, and it’s fun to experiment. More