Apple brings sleep apnea notifications to Apple Watch in India

Apple has introduced sleep apnea notifications for Apple Watch users in India. The feature expands the device's health tracking role by flagging possible breathing issues for medical follow-up.

In Short

• Apple introduce sleep apnoea notifications for Apple Watch
• This feature can detect possible signs of moderate to severe sleep apnoea during sleep
• Apple Watch uses the accelerometer to track breathing disturbances at night

After setting a benchmark in the tech industry, Apple now appears to be exploring deeper into the health space through its devices. Its Apple Watch remains one of the most popular smartwatches globally, and the company continues to introduce new features aimed at making it more useful in everyday health monitoring. In 2024, Apple received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the sleep apnoea detection feature on the Apple Watch. Now, the company has officially introduced sleep apnoea notifications for Apple Watch users in India, adding another health-focused capability to its wearable ecosystem.

The new capability is designed to help users identify possible signs of moderate to severe sleep apnoea by analysing breathing disturbances during sleep. The company says the feature can notify users if repeated irregular breathing patterns are detected over time, encouraging them to consult a doctor for further evaluation.

What is sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a condition where a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. These interruptions can reduce oxygen levels in the body and affect overall sleep quality. And the surprising thing is, people may not even realise they have the condition.

According to Apple, sleep apnoea affects more than one billion people globally and often goes undiagnosed. If left untreated, it may increase the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart-related complications, and other long-term health issues.

How Apple Watch detects sleep apnoea signs

Apple says the new feature uses the Apple Watch’s built-in accelerometer to detect tiny wrist movements associated with breathing interruptions during sleep. The watch analyses what Apple calls “Breathing Disturbances” — temporary disruptions in normal breathing patterns.

The feature works in two stages. First, the Apple Watch records nightly breathing disturbance data while the user is asleep. Then, over a 30-day period, the system analyses the collected data to check for repeated elevated breathing disturbances that may indicate signs of moderate to severe sleep apnoea.

If consistent signs are detected, the user receives a sleep apnoea notification through the Health app.

Apple says the sleep apnoea notification algorithm was developed using advanced machine learning and trained on a large set of clinical-grade sleep apnoea tests. The company also claims the feature was validated through a large-scale clinical study.

- Ends