A week after Apple’s recent event showcasing its new iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new function for the Apple Watch that detects sleep apnea.
This approval comes just days before the release of Apple’s Series 10 watch, which is set to launch on September 20. Owners of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 can begin using the sleep apnea detection feature immediately by updating to the newly released watchOS 11 software.
Sleep apnea is a condition where individuals repeatedly stop and start breathing during sleep, leading to morning fatigue and potential heart issues if left untreated. Affecting approximately 1 billion people worldwide, it is often undiagnosed. The condition is sometimes accompanied by loud snoring.
The new Apple Watch feature aims to help users identify potential signs of sleep apnea, potentially facilitating earlier diagnosis and treatment.
The FDA has indicated that the Apple Watch’s sleep apnea function is not intended as a diagnostic tool but rather as an over-the-counter device for assessing the risk of sleep apnea. Apple’s health feature, called “Breathing Disturbances,” is designed to monitor and provide insights into users’ breathing patterns during sleep, functioning as a proactive health monitoring tool.
The technology behind this feature uses an accelerometer in the watch to detect small wrist movements associated with disruptions in breathing patterns. The Apple Watch analyzes Breathing Disturbance data every 30 days and alerts users who show consistent patterns of sleep interruptions, recommending that they consult a physician for a potential sleep apnea diagnosis.
This FDA approval follows the agency’s recent endorsement of Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 as over-the-counter hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. This development further solidifies Apple’s position in the health tech market. The approval of the AirPods Pro 2 has been welcomed by hearing experts, who see it as a significant advancement for the OTC hearing aid market and for the approximately 30 million Americans with hearing loss.
