Samsung is removing the Vascular Load feature from its Galaxy Watch line in the U.S. with the upcoming Samsung Health app v7.0 and One UI 9 Watch update. This change, expected in July, will affect users who relied on the metric that measured blood flow and vascular stiffness during sleep. The company is replacing it with a new feature called "Blood Pressure Trends."

Blood Pressure Trends will periodically check blood pressure to display changes over time, offering tips for healthy habits. Samsung notes this new feature, like Vascular Load, is for wellness purposes only, and any health concerns should be discussed with a medical professional. The feature is slated to appear on the next generation, the Galaxy Watch 9.

Vascular Load was part of the Galaxy Watch 8's Preventative Care suite, aiming to highlight strain on the heart. Its removal is a notable shift for users seeking detailed cardiovascular metrics. While the new trend feature offers a different perspective, it requires calibration with an external cuff, a process Samsung introduced earlier this year for its blood pressure monitoring.

The shift away from direct vascular stiffness measurement marks a change in Samsung's approach to wearable health tracking. Users previously gained insights into heart strain through Vascular Load, a metric now being phased out for a trend-based blood pressure analysis, which requires separate calibration. Samsung is phasing out the feature for U.S. users.