Sleep apnea detection via Apple Watch: feature is activated

Apple also released a new health function in its Apple Watch with watchOS 11 this week. Nighttime sleep apnea tracking is available on the new Apple Watch Series 10 on Friday, but has been available on older models as well. Approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Happened this week too.

Advertisement

China and India not included

New updated list of countries getting the new feature, is tall: There are 150 territories in the world at a stroke, including the EU countries, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway. However, the big “failures” at first glance are Apple’s important future markets India, the People’s Republic of China (with the exception of Macau and Hong Kong), Australia, Canada and Taiwan – it is still unclear when approval will be received here.

Commendably, owners of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 (both from 2023) can also use the tracking. Earlier models such as the first-generation Ultra or the Series 8 and SE have been left out. Sleep apnea detection is part of Apple’s sleep tracking. It first monitors the user’s condition during a certain period and can then report whether breathing pauses have “increased” during the night. Apple has validated its system in clinical trials and uses “advanced machine learning”.

Bluetooth speaker Nubert Nugo One in the test: DAB +, deep bass and 24 hours of battery

Why is sleep apnea a problem?

Sleep apnea occurs in millions of cases and unfortunately those affected rarely even realize it. Depending on the severity, short or long interruptions in breathing due to physiological factors occur with varying frequency. Poor oxygen saturation at night can have serious long-term consequences – from biological damage to increased susceptibility to dementia and even heart attacks. Some sufferers even experience dangerous microsleeps during the day. Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are also promoted.

For its tracking, the Apple Watch does not use the blood oxygen sensor, which is the subject of a patent dispute, but rather the very sensitive acceleration and motion sensors of the watch. Data about wrist movements is collected over at least 30 nights. A notification will be made later if necessary. Very mild cases of sleep apnea may not be tracked.

(B.Sc.)