Experts: Relying on smartwatches for BP readings may not be a smart move

LUCKNOW: Ram Prakash, a retired teacher, was relaxing in the lawns of his house in Indiranagar on February 9, when he had a headache. Like we all mostly do, he popped a painkiller and continued reading the newspaper.
After three days, the headache returned, prompting Prakash to again pop the pill. But, when the frequency of such episodes kept increasing, Prakash went to King George's Medical University (KGMU) for treatment.
On investigation, it was found that his blood pressure was 170/100 against the normal range of 135/85. It came to fore that Prakash had stopped taking high blood pressure medication six months back, relying on the readings of his 'smartwatch' that was showing BP in almost normal range.
"Most of us are unaware that though wrist-based bands (smartwatches) give reliable step counts and SpO2 oxygen levels etc.; they do not give accurate BP readings," said Prof Nar Singh Verma, head, family medicine department, KGMU.
Prof Verma, who has examined two such BP patients in the past five months, said, "These patients should understand that relying on smartwatch readings for BP and skipping medication can prove fatal as they often show BP in the normal range, whether it is high or low."