If you need to monitor your blood pressure
constantly, the most convenient solution would be to don a smartwatch that can
take that reading at your request. Most smartwatches, including the Apple
Watch, do not have this feature available. Currently available connected
timepieces can track your heart rate (watching this can save your life as some
Apple Watch users have discovered) and blood oxygen levels. But now, several
manufacturers are trying to add this function on wearable devices.
One smartwatch that will take a wearer's blood
pressure is the Asus VivoWatch BP. Unlike Omron's HeartGuide, which is a
smartwatch that uses an inflatable strap to obtain this reading, the Asus
device employs Electrocardiography (ECG) combined with a PPG sensor; the former
measures the heart's electrical activity while the latter measures blood flow.
Instead of a strap tightly constricting your wrist, the VivoWatch BP system
simply requires the wearer to press his or her index finger on the face of the
smartwatch.
The entire process of getting a blood pressure
reading takes all of 15 seconds with the VivoWatch BP. The device also provides
health advice and tips to the user on how to lower his blood pressure thanks to
AsusHealthAI. And with a battery that lasts up to 28 days on a single charge,
those wearing the timepiece won't have to stress out about charging the watch,
keeping their BP down. The smartwatch will also track a user's heart rate,
sleep quality and activities.
Asus just
unveiled the device at Computex 2018, and there is no word yet on the
availability or cost of the VivoWatch BP.
