- Apple Watch Sleep Apnea feature has finally got a nod from FDA making it ready to roll out with watchOS 11.
- It will be a part of watchOS 11 for Apple Watch Series 9 and 10 as well as Watch Ultra 2.
- It will use accelerometer on the watch to detect instances of 'breathing disturbances' based on clinical study to return the responses.
Just weeks after AirPods got their clearance from the FDA to double as hearing aids, the Apple Watch sleep apnea detection feature has gained an official FDA certification as well.
This means that starting as early as September 20, many Apple Watches can get their hands on the feature via watchOS 11. This adds another critical health-related application on the smartwatch as Apple attempts to make a diagnosis of various incidents and occurrences cheaper and more efficient.
FDA Clears Apple Watch Sleep Apnea Feature for Production
With the FDA certification, Apple Watch Series 10, Watch Series 9, and Watch Ultra 2 will get their hands on the sleep apnea detection feature available in the U.S. and more than 150 other countries across the globe. Rolling as a part of watchOS 11 software update, you should get your hands on the update soon.
Sleep Apnea is a serious medical condition wherein the breathing of a person stops and starts when they are asleep. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications including Type 2 Diabetes and hypertension, to name a few.
Statistically, more than 39 million people in the US are suffering from sleep apnea, and more than 936 million people are estimated to be suffering from it worldwide. The FDA-cleared feature aims to make diagnosis cheaper as it bundles on a $399 Apple Watch along with a bunch of other health features including fall detection and atrial fibrillation detection, to name a few.
Note that the findings of your Apple Watch won’t be admitted as an official diagnosis, however, it is a precursor allowing users to get themselves tested for sleep apnea should there be any signs.
How Does Apple Watch Sleep Apnea Feature Works?
According to Apple, the sleep apnea detection feature on-board Apple Watch works by analyzing a metric called ‘breathing disturbances’. As aforementioned, a person suffering from sleep apnea has irregular breathing patterns wherein their breathing stops and starts when asleep.
The feature uses accelerometers on-board the Apple Watch to measure movement at the wrist further associated with these kinds of disturbances. It further classifies the metrics as ‘elevated’ or ‘not elevated’ within the Health app. If it says ‘elevated’, it means there have been consistent signs of mild to severe sleep apnea, and you must report it to a doctor to get officially diagnosed.
