New Apple Watch Could Help You Get a Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

Last updated: 2024/09/10 at 1:43 AM

By admin 2 Min Read

Someone monitoring your breathing while you sleep may sound creepy, but the new Apple Watch can do just that without the need for human eyes. Apple announced at its latest event that the Apple Watch Series 10 ($400) will have the ability to track breathing regularity and alert users to potential sleep apnea issues.

Sleep apnea is a common condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, leading to serious health risks. The new Apple Watch feature aims to address the under-diagnosis of sleep apnea by monitoring wrist movements with an accelerometer and alerting users to potential issues. If irregular breathing patterns are detected, the watch algorithm can suggest seeing a doctor for further evaluation.

Experts In This Article

Yerem Yeghiazarians, MD, is an interventional cardiologist at UCSF Medical Center specializing in cardiac care.

According to Apple, the feature is still awaiting FDA clearance, but initial studies have shown promising results in identifying sleep apnea cases. The convenience of monitoring sleep patterns passively with a wearable device like the Apple Watch could potentially improve early detection and treatment of sleep apnea, bridging the gap in diagnosis rates.

Given its potential impact on public health, the Apple Watch’s new feature could revolutionize how sleep apnea is diagnosed and managed. Stay tuned for more updates on this innovative technology.