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3-2-1 Blood Pressure
Priyanka Vaidya
June 23, 2025
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition that often develops over many years and can quietly damage your body before symptoms appear. Most people with high blood pressure experience no symptoms, which is why it’s called the “silent killer”. When symptoms do occur, usually only when blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels (typically 180/120 mmHg or higher), they may include severe headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, blurred vision, nosebleeds, dizziness, or heart palpitations.
Hypotension, or low blood pressure, is when the force of blood against your artery walls is lower than normal, typically defined as below 90/60 mm Hg. While some people naturally have low blood pressure without issues, hypotension becomes a problem if it causes symptoms or leads to insufficient blood flow to vital organs.
Globally, hypertension affects an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79, with nearly half unaware they have the condition. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss. Regular blood pressure checks are essential for early detection and effective management.
3 startups making an impact in this space:
Company | |||
Location | Switzerland | South Korea | Japan |
Modality | Remote Monitoring | Remote Monitoring | Therapeutics |
Descriptor | Effortless 24/7 monitoring and personalised insights for taking control of your blood pressure. | A cuffless ring-type blood pressure monitor that offers continuous and convenient monitoring. | Digital therapeutics for people who suffer from conditions that conventional drugs and devices cannot address. |
Core Problem | Blood pressure measurements can be tricky with a standard cuff and are not continuous. | Proactive and preemptive management of blood pressure is a challenge. | In the US, the number of patients with hypertension is estimated to be approximately 75 million, and it costs the nation $48.6 billion each year. |
Solution | The Hilo band takes ~25 measurements around the clock, surfacing insights about how meals, medication, and stressors impact blood pressure. | The AI-enabled ring continuously measures blood pressure using PPG sensors. | CureApp aims to develop a new medical care system that treats lifestyle-related diseases by leveraging technology and changing patient behaviour. |
Product Suite | Hilo Band Hilo App | CART BP Ring CART App | Cure App for Hypertension Cure App for Smoking Cessation Cure App for NASH |
Regulatory Status | Submitted to FDA | Approved by the Korean Health body | Approved in Japan. |
Funding Stage | Series B | Series C | Series G |
Team | – | – | Physician entrepreneur |
Traction | Strong traction in Europe. | Strong traction in Korea. | Strong traction in Japan. |
2 actionable insights to inspire your strategy.
Remote Monitoring There is a significant shift towards using wearable, cuffless blood pressure monitors and mobile health (mHealth) applications. These technologies enable continuous, real-time monitoring outside of traditional clinical settings, allow for remote data sharing with healthcare providers, and support telemedicine and telemonitoring approaches. This trend is making blood pressure management more accessible, data-driven, and personalized. | Personalized Medicine Modern management emphasizes integrating lifestyle modifications with pharmacological therapy, often supported by digital therapeutics and individualized risk-based strategies. The use of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and digital platforms enables tailored interventions, anticipatory medicine (predicting and preventing events), and better adherence to treatment, resulting in improved outcomes. |
1 key resource to deepen your understanding.
Here’s a detailed take on blood pressure and its relation to heart disease and diabetes from the podcast, ‘Let it Flow’:
And that’s all for today. See you next Monday!
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