New Feature for 2024 Apple Watch Reportedly Detects Sleep Apnea

Nearly 30 million people in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea, Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source but about 80% of them don’t know they have the sleep disorder. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, undiagnosed sleep apnea costs about $150 billion each year due to work accidents, car crashes, lost productivity, and related illnesses. Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source

Sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep, narrowing or blocking the upper airway. This narrowing can cause loud snoring and frequent pauses in breathing that often interrupt sleep by briefly waking the sleeper. With frequent wakings, people with sleep apnea don’t get sufficient restful sleep. The disorder is also linked to a higher risk of attention and memory issues, heart disease, and many other health problems. Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source  

Reports claim the Apple Watch Series 10 will be able to recognize sleep apnea by detecting snoring and measuring heart rate, breathing rate, body movements, and sleep patterns. Previous Apple Watches can also track some health measures, such as heart rate, sleep patterns, and blood oxygen levels.  

The new Apple Watch won’t be able to definitively diagnose sleep apnea–only a doctor can do that. Instead, when it detects sleep apnea symptoms, it will alert the Apple Watch wearer to contact their doctor. From there, the sleeper’s doctor can refer them for testing. If diagnosed, the doctor can treat them for sleep apnea.  

Doctors usually diagnose sleep apnea with a sleep study or home sleep apnea test. Sleep studies require a person to spend the night in a hospital or sleep center. Home sleep apnea tests may be a good option for people who may be reluctant to get checked at a hospital or sleep center. And for people who suspect they have sleep apnea because they snore or have other symptoms but have been putting off getting checked, an alert from their wearable tech may prompt them to see their doctor sooner.

In addition to alerting people to sleep apnea signs, the new Apple Watch is also reported to send alerts when blood pressure is high. This feature may also help people with sleep apnea since the disorders are often linked.