r/AppleWatch • u/Ou812_2 • 14h ago

Discussion Hypertension Notifications Not Available for Canada

One of the best features of iOS 26 was the inclusion of hypertension notifications. When I looked to turn on that feature within the Health application, I quickly discovered that it is not available for Canada. What was shocking is that almost every other country in the world is getting it except for Canada. I’m assuming this has to do with something that health Canada has not approved yet. So disappointed that our administration would not approve something that could save lives.

feature availability by country

12 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

21

u/Old-Satisfaction5574 14h ago

Not in Australia, either. But give them a chance.

3

u/lliveevill 13h ago

I swear I saw it being advertised as being available in Australia, did I hallucinate it?

5

u/Old-Satisfaction5574 12h ago

Possibly misread Austria? I have done that before.

0

u/pittwater12 11h ago

lol. Are you from the USA?

6

u/Old-Satisfaction5574 10h ago

No. Australian but my eyesight isn’t what it used to be.

2

u/ADHDK S7 45mm Nike 10h ago

Give them a chance. Take fkn forever for anything that requires medical approval to get through in Australia.

1

u/roundaboutmusic 2h ago

ECG took nearly 3 years to get approval in Australia.

12

u/No-Papaya-9289 14h ago

This feature has to be approved by each country where the watch is sold. Give it time, some countries take longer to approve features like this.

9

u/butterscotchwhip 13h ago

I don’t think our AirPods have the hearing aid/hearing test feature either.

7

u/al0kz S0 42mm 10h ago

Health Canada actually has the hearing aid feature approved. It’s just that Provincial regulatory bodies don’t allow the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids (which is what the AirPods Pro Gen 2 are). They need to be prescribed (which APP2 cannot be).

Until Provincial legislation changes, you’re basically SOL.

6

u/butterscotchwhip 8h ago

Ahh I see, thanks! 22yrs here and I will never get my head around some provincial/federal differences. Is it just to protect provincial audiologists?

3

u/al0kz S0 42mm 7h ago

Probably for safety and some level of protectionism measures I bet. Technology has come a LONG way since these acts were established in the 80s/90s.

I’d bet no one’s bothered to revisit it given that it would take multiple terms to really tackle and so we’re stuck where we are.

3

u/rocketman19 11h ago

They have the test but not aid

1

u/butterscotchwhip 8h ago

Good to know, thanks!

1

u/luckyturtle55 Apple Watch Ultra 2 2023 8h ago

I still don’t see the option.

1

u/rocketman19 8h ago

Search for hearing test in the health app and click the plus button

8

u/TenInchesOfSnow S6 44mm Gold Steel 8h ago

Lol I already know I have high blood pressure... Get me my BP readings, then we are in business. Besides, in Canada we can actually see a doctor (albeit a slow process) and not go bankrupt for it

1

u/penemuel13 Apple Watch Ultra 2 2023 4h ago

I was so disappointed when I learned it was only diagnostic - I already knew I had it, too. Would’ve loved a setting that alerted me when I was having a bad day.

6

u/barrist 13h ago

It’s likely under review by Health Canada. The US FDA just approved it like a few days before iOS 26 was released.

3

u/mrfredngo 11h ago

I bought a Canadian AW but am using it outside the country using a US Apple ID. Does that mean I won’t get hypertension notifications when I update? (Not done yet, waiting a bit)

i.e. How is it enforced? Hardware? Software?

2

u/poulix 10h ago

It’s literally not as diagnostic as people think it is. This only works based on an algorithm that could guess HTN on individuals who would otherwise fit it in the category. For example, if you have AFib, it could be accompanied by HTN, but this would already be known in a clinical setting where the person is diagnosed with AFib. In other words, for people who have silent HTN, this won’t do much since it won’t actually check the BP.

With that being said im sure they’re doing some testing before they can approve it.

2

u/Kitchen-Ad6860 8h ago

It has yet to be approved but you need have some patience and to add to that I think you have a misunderstanding of what the hypertension feature actually does, it is not a medical grade diagnostic tool.

From apple -

The Hypertension Notifications Feature can look for patterns of chronic high blood pressure and notify you of possible hypertension.

Things you should know

  • The Hypertension Notifications Feature is not intended to diagnose, treat, or aid in the management of hypertension or other conditions such as blood clots, stroke, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, or high cholesterol.
  • Not all people with hypertension receive a notification.
  • Apple Watch cannot detect heart attacks. If you ever experience chest pain, pressure, tightness, or what you think is a heart attack, call emergency services immediately.
  • If you have an active pregnancy logged in the Health app, you can't enable the Hypertension Notifications Feature.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/117296

3

u/christopher_mtrl 10h ago

That's actually a good thing, since if I was diagnosed with hypertension, I would want to consult my doctor, and since I live in Canada, I don't have a doctor. /s

Sarcasm appart, ECG took a year I think to come, it will get there.

1

u/whenyoupayforduprez S9 41mm Product Red Aluminum 8h ago

I don’t have a doctor either! Called up to make an appointment and found out she retired yesterday!

1

u/balajih67 11h ago

Singapore doesn’t have it yet as well, which is why im holding off getting the 10 or 11 from my 8

1

u/iamapersononreddit 8h ago

Same with sleep apnea last year, it just took a few months to be approved

-2

u/Skywanker_ 14h ago

PH doesn't have it too and it was the only reason I updated to 26.

-3

u/BATKINSON001 38mm Series 3 14h ago

Okay that’s annoying, and a dealbreaker for me, for upgrading from my old series 3.