Samsung has given the green light to a discovery feature on devices in the US. The company notes that this is the first approval of its kind in the US: South Korean officials previously approved the feature for use in that country .
plans to add the sleep apnea monitoring tool to compatible Galaxy Watch wearables in the third quarter of this year. It will be available through the Samsung Health Monitor app.
The feature allows people over the age of 22 who have not been diagnosed with the condition to check for signs of sleep apnea using their smartwatch and phone. Look for signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) over a two-night follow-up period. Users will need to track their sleep for more than four hours twice over a ten-day period to use the feature.
OSA is a common chronic condition that affects about 25 percent of men and one-tenth of women in the U.S., according to the National Sleep Foundation. People with this condition tend to stop breathing while sleeping, which can reduce sleep quality, disrupt oxygen delivery, and cause more tiredness during the day. If left untreated, “sleep apnea can worsen the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, and stroke.” samsung notes. The company added that the feature should help more people detect moderate and severe forms of the condition, and seek medical advice when they do.
Other versions of the feature, which ties into Samsung's other efforts to help its customers, have appeared on devices elsewhere. In 2020, Withings is betting on its sleep tracking mat.
