Samsung has just received FDA approval for the sleep apnea feature in the Samsung Health Monitor app. This feature will detect signs of sleep apnea when using a compatible Galaxy Watch and Samsung phone combination in the US.
The specific Galaxy Watch model that will support this feature is still unclear, as Samsung’s press release doesn’t provide details. However, it’s safe to assume that the Galaxy Watch6 series will be compatible. In Korea, both the Watch6 and Watch5 families will support the feature, which has already been approved by the relevant authorities there.
The sleep apnea feature will allow users to detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea over a two-night monitoring period, starting in the third quarter of this year. It’s set to launch sometime between July and September. To use it, users need to track their sleep twice for more than four hours within a ten-day period, and need to be over 22 years old.
Sleep apnea is a common and chronic sleep condition that often goes undiagnosed and untreated. It causes individuals to stop breathing while they sleep and can lead to disruptions in oxygen supply, resulting in low sleep quality and daytime fatigue. Untreated sleep apnea can also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and stroke.
About 25% of men and 10% of women in the US experience this condition, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Samsung’s new feature will make it easier for more people to find out if they have sleep apnea and seek medical care to reduce any health-related complications.