THE gave the green light to a detection function activated devices in the United States, Samsung revealed. The company notes that this is the first such approval in the United States – South Korean officials have already wholeheartedly approved the feature's use in that country.
plans to add the sleep apnea monitoring tool to Galaxy Watch-compatible wearable devices in the third quarter of this year. It will be available through the Samsung Health Monitor app.
This feature allows people ages 22 and older who have not been diagnosed with the condition to check for signs of sleep apnea using their smartwatch and phone. It looks for signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) over a two-night monitoring period. Users will need to track their sleep for more than four hours twice over a ten-day period to use this feature.
OSA is a common chronic disease that affects about 25 percent of men and one-tenth of women in the United States, according to the National Sleep Foundation. People with this condition tend to stop breathing while sleeping, which can reduce their sleep quality, disrupt their oxygen supply, and lead to increased daytime fatigue. If left untreated, “sleep apnea can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, and stroke.” Samsung Notes. The company added that this feature should help more people detect moderate and severe forms of the disease and seek medical attention when they do.
Other versions of the feature, related to Samsung's other efforts to help its customers , have appeared on devices elsewhere. In 2020, Withings to its sleep tracking mat.