Starting today, Apple Watch started offering the sleep apnea notification feature to its users in Turkey. This feature will help detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea by monitoring breathing disorders during sleep. Apple received a Medical Device License from the Ministry of Health to implement this new functionality.
Sleep apnea is known as a serious health problem that occurs when breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. Although it is estimated that more than 1 billion people around the world face this problem, most people are not even aware of their condition. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to significant health problems such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Apple Watch uses a sensor called an accelerometer to detect sleep apnea. This sensor tracks small wrist movements associated with interruptions in the normal breathing pattern. The resulting data is analyzed through the newly developed Respiratory Dysfunction measurement. Although some breathing disorders are considered natural, regular monitoring of this data allows users to evaluate sleep quality and understand whether frequently recurring breathing problems are related to sleep apnea.
Users can view Respiratory Disorder data tracked overnight through the Health app on iPhone or iPad. This data is presented as “up” or “not up,” classified into one-month, six-month or one-year periods. Breathing interruptions are analyzed at 30-day intervals, notifying users who consistently show moderate or severe apnea symptoms over a period of time. In this way, users are informed about consulting their doctors for a possible diagnosis or treatment.
The notification includes informative materials about the time period in which sleep apnea symptoms occur and the importance of treatment. A PDF containing three months of respiratory distress data is also available that users can share with their doctors. Thus, users can speed up the diagnosis process by providing more detailed information to healthcare professionals.
Apple’s sleep apnea notification algorithm was developed using advanced machine learning technologies. This algorithm was validated against tests used to diagnose sleep apnea, supported by a clinically validated data set. In large clinical studies, all participants identified by the algorithm had at least mild sleep apnea.
Sleep disorders can be detected at an early stage with Apple Watch
This new feature allows users to take more effective measures to improve sleep quality and detect sleep disorders at an early stage. This innovation offered by Apple Watch in the field of health tracking helps users constantly monitor their health status and take precautions against serious health risks.
Sleep apnea notifications are supported by Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Watch Ultra 2 models.