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The science of sleep apnea
How Apple Watch Series 10 can help detect signs of sleep apnea
Moderate to severe sleep apnea affects around 10%1 of the global adult population – but 80% of cases are undiagnosed2. Here, we unpack how the Sleep Apnea Notification Feature on Apple Watch Series 10 can help
Apple Watch Series 10 is here – the latest edition of the world’s most popular watch. Featuring a refined design and new capabilities, it is more powerful, intelligent and sophisticated.
Apple Watch Series 10 is the thinnest Apple Watch yet – making it more comfortable than ever – and offers the biggest, most advanced display of any Apple Watch.
It features faster charging, water depth and temperature sensing, plus new health and fitness insights and intelligence in watchOS 11.
It can also detect signs of sleep apnea. Here, we explore what this condition actually is, how it impacts our health and how Apple Watch can help.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common and treatable sleep condition characterised by interruptions in the regular respiratory pattern during sleep, most commonly occurring when the muscles located in the back of the throat relax.
They’re fairly common and people typically experience a few disturbances each night. Body position, alcohol intake, upper respiratory illnesses and even some medications can lead to an increase in breathing disturbances from night to night.
An increased number of breathing disturbances over multiple nights may indicate sleep apnea. Despite advances in public awareness about the importance of sleep, most cases of sleep apnea remain undiagnosed.2
What are the health implications?
Sleep apnea can make it difficult to get a full night of rest, which can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulties concentrating, morning headaches and irritability.
Untreated, the condition can increase the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes3, heart attack and stroke4. The health implications of sleep apnea are most significant for moderate to severe cases.
How can Apple Watch help?
You can wear your Apple Watch to sleep and track breathing disturbances with Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10 and Ultra 2, along with watchOS 11.
After each night of sleep, you are given a breathing disturbance value that is classified as either elevated or not elevated.
The notification will tell you when potential sleep apnea occurred and give you a detailed report to discuss with your healthcare provider.
Important
The Sleep Apnea Notification Feature on Apple Watch is not intended to replace speaking to your doctor for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of sleep apnea. The feature is intended for people 18 years of ago or older, without a previous diagnosis of sleep apnea.
For information on how to enable sleep apnea notifications, and how to review your breathing disturbances data, visit the Apple Watch user guide: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/watch/apd4e7713562/watchos
Apple has also published an article describing the development and validation of the Sleep Apnea Notification Feature: https://www.apple.com/health/pdf/sleep-apnea/Sleep_Apnea_Notifications_on_Apple_Watch_September_2024.pdf
As a Vitality member with a qualifying plan, you can get Apple Watch Series 10 from as little as £10 upfront (limited time offer, 12 November 2024 - 14 February 2025). Then pay between £0 and £10 per month, depending on how many Vitality activity points you earn.
Stay active with Apple Watch and you could save up to £389 over three years!
Minimum premiums, credit agreement and further terms and conditions apply. Offer applies to first watch purchases. The upfront cost and monthly payments will differ for further watch purchases.
1 Benjafield, Adam V., Najib T. Ayas, Peter R. Eastwood, Raphael Heinzer, Mary S. M. Ip, Mary J. Morrell, Carlos M. Nunez, Sanjay R. Patel, Thomas Penzel, and Jean-Louis Pépin. 2019. “Estimation of the Global Prevalence and Burden of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A LiteratureBased Analysis.” Lancet Respiratory Medicine 7, no. 8 (August): 687–698. doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(19)30198-5.
2 Peppard, Paul E., Terry Young, Jodi H. Barnet, Mari Palta, Erika W. Hagen, and Khin Mae Hla. 2013. “Increased Prevalence of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Adults.” American Journal of Epidemiology 177, no. 9 (May): 1006–1014. doi.org/10.1093/aje/kws342.
