FDA-approved Apple Watch sleep Apnea detection

According to Techcrunch reports, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Apple Watch sleep apnea detection. FDA published the report on Monday for the Apple Watch series 9,10 and Watch Ultra 2. The announcement came four days before the release of Series 10. 

The watch requires 10 nights of sleep tracking to determine the condition. It’s like an over-the-counter way to assess your risk for sleep apnea. According to the American Medical Association, almost 30 to 40 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. However, most of them have not been diagnosed. This new update on the Apple Health app may help to identify the risks. 

Sleep apnea is a sleep deprivation or disorder. It causes the person to stop breathing, disrupting oxygen flow to the brain and body. Meanwhile, some people snore, which can also be a sign of sleep apnea. Though, it doesn’t mean they have obstructive sleep apnea. 

Sleep apnea leads to many other conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular health, dementia and mood disorders. 

Around 1400 people participated in the test for FDA clearance. According to the results, the Apple watch alerted almost 66% of people correctly. Meanwhile, Oura Ring and Fitbit also identify signs of apnea. Also, earlier this year, Samsung Galaxy received FDA approval for its app.