The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given approval to add sleep apnea detection to the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Watch Ultra 2. The green light comes four days before the Series 10 is set to launch on September 20.
This very useful feature was announced at the iPhone 16 event and will be released as part of the upcoming watchOS 11. Once enabled, 10 nights of sleep tracking data over a 30-day period will be required to determine if a user has sleep apnea. During this time, the Apple Watch also offers insights into other nighttime sleep disorders using the built-in accelerometer.
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The FDA classifies the feature as an “over-the-counter device for assessing the risk of sleep apnea.” Apple also emphasizes that this feature is not a diagnostic tool. Instead, it will provide some information that can help users understand if there is a problem, so they can contact a doctor for a formal diagnosis. From there, experts will judge whether and what treatment is necessary.
Sleep apnea, which will be detected by Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Watch Ultra 2, is a condition characterized by repeated periods of breathing interruption during sleep. These interruptions lead to decreased oxygen in the blood and disrupted sleep.
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Sleep apnea can be accompanied by various other symptoms, such as insomnia, headaches, daytime sleepiness, and more.
Apple isn't the first consumer electronics company to offer the feature. Withings has been offering apnea detection on devices for some time, while Samsung received FDA approval for its Galaxy Watch series earlier this year.
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The FDA approval is a significant milestone for wearable technology, demonstrating the growing trust in consumer devices to monitor and manage serious health conditions. By enabling sleep apnea detection on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Watch Ultra 2, the FDA is empowering users to take proactive steps to monitor their sleep health and seek early medical intervention when necessary. This feature could be especially beneficial for people who are unaware of their condition, providing them with critical insights. In addition, this approval could pave the way for more similar technologies to be integrated into Apple Watch and other devices.
Source: techcrunch.com
