Samsung Electronics has announced that its sleep apnea feature on the Samsung Health Monitor app has been approved by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). The feature will be available on the Galaxy Watch series in Korea early next year. This new addition aims to help users recognize and address obstructive sleep apnea symptoms in the early stages, as the condition often goes undiagnosed and untreated.
Hon Pak, Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team at Samsung Electronics, stated that the company is dedicated to providing advanced technologies that assist individuals in understanding and taking control of their wellness. With the new sleep apnea feature, users will have a simple and proactive tool to identify this disorder before it worsens.
Sleep apnea is a common yet serious medical condition that causes individuals to temporarily stop breathing while sleeping. This can result in a lack of oxygen supply, poor sleep quality, and various health complications such as hypertension, cardiac disorders, stroke, or cognitive impairments. Statistics from the National Sleep Foundation reveal that approximately 25 percent of men and 10 percent of women in the US suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Unfortunately, many fail to recognize the symptoms or seek medical treatment. The new sleep apnea feature on Galaxy Watch aims to change this by encouraging early detection and reducing the risk of health-related complications.
Utilizing the Galaxy Watch’s BioActive Sensor, the sleep apnea feature monitors blood oxygen levels during sleep. By analyzing the changes in blood oxygen values and detecting apnea/hypopnea, it calculates the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) to identify moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Users will need to track their sleep for at least four hours, twice within a 10-day period to determine if they exhibit these symptoms.
The sleep apnea feature joins other health-monitoring capabilities such as blood pressure monitoring, electrocardiogram (ECG) detection, and irregular heart rhythm notification (IHRN) on the Samsung Health Monitor app. These additions provide users with a comprehensive understanding of their overall health, conveniently from their wrist. The sleep apnea feature will be available through app updates on the Galaxy Watch series in Korea starting early next year.
It is worth noting that the sleep apnea feature is a pre-diagnosis tool and should not replace diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional. Individuals should consult their doctor if they feel unwell, even if the watch does not detect sleep apnea. If sleep apnea has already been diagnosed, this feature should not be used. The Galaxy Watch cannot detect every case of obstructive sleep apnea and is only designed to identify possible moderate to severe cases, not central sleep apnea. Additionally, the availability of the feature may vary depending on market or device, and it is only intended for individuals aged 22 and over.
“Revolutionary Breakthrough: Samsung Galaxy Watch Introduces Game-Changing Sleep Apnea Solution with Official Approval!”
