The wearable technologies like the cuffless devices used for measuring blood pressure shows great promise. Cuffless blood pressure monitoring can be done through smartwatches, rings, patches and fingertip monitors, a better alternative to traditional arm-cuff monitors. According to a new scientific statement published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension, though promising, they have not yet proven accurate enough to diagnose high blood pressure or guide treatment decisions.
FDA in July 2025, approved the first over-the-counter cuffless blood pressure device. This slim wristband automatically checks your blood pressure up to 50 times a day will be out in the market by 2026. This band is called the Hilo Band and is priced at $280. The device uses a light-based sensor to detect changes in the amount of blood flowing through the vessels of the inner wrist, a technique known as photoplethysmography (PPG).
Blood Pressure Wearable Technology
Published in 2025, AHA/ACC High Blood Pressure Guideline finds the usage of cuffless blood pressure devices for diagnosis is not reliable. As per them, there are notable limitations that need to be taken care of before these devices can be correctly used for the diseases.
There are many different innovations happening in the field of wearables where they are working on approaches to measure blood pressure using PPG and other technologies.
Importance of Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor
An alarming one in three American adults has high blood pressure. Knowing how to control the blood pressure and what can be done to monitor it can be very useful. One way to do so is using a tradition method, where one can wear a traditional blood pressure cuff on the upper arm for 24 hours. The other is checking it at home which becomes tedious and again not everyone gets accurate readings at home.
This cuffless blood pressure monitoring device is so useful. They unobtrusively measure blood pressure throughout the day and night. There is no squeezing sensation, and it doesn’t make the sound of an inflatable cuff, either of which may trigger an alarm reaction that causes blood pressure to climb. With the Hilo Band, the green light that shines on the inside of the wrist isn’t visible to the wearer.
Problem with Blood Pressure Wearable Technology
Though it has many advantages, cuffless devices have some problems as per JAMA Cardiology review notes. Cuffless devices measure blood pressure all the time when the wearer is sitting as well as when standing, moving or lying down validating the accuracy of the readings becomes complicated. One has to periodically calibrate these devices like the Hilo Band against a traditional cuff-based device and then can be a challenging task, especially for older people.
These cuffless blood pressure monitoring devices have lot of data on them and that can create issues like technological compatibility, clinician workload, and privacy. Also, no proven clinical trials show that cuffless devices are just as effective and cost-efficient for preventing heart-related problems as traditional devices are.
In coming years, cuffless devices will be commonplace and likely beneficial for everyone, says Dr. LeWine. “For now, they could be particularly helpful for people who have recurrent spells of feeling lightheaded, as the immediate feedback about their blood pressure could help inform medication adjustments,” he says.
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