CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple on Tuesday introduced a new feature for its smartwatch that notifies users they may have high blood pressure, the company’s latest bid to help people stay informed about issues impacting their health with devices they use everyday.

Apple has consistently added heart health features to its smartwatch, including detection of arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. Because of the device’s wide distribution, it has the potential to catch health conditions in many people who would not otherwise know about them. Critics note that screening a large population for disease will potentially flag many people who do not have conditions, causing anxiety and increasing health care costs.

Sanket Dhruva, a cardiologist at UCSF, said he is “enthusiastic about the possibilities” pr

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