New Feature for 2024 Apple Watch Reportedly Detects Sleep Apnea

Updated November 10, 2023

Fact-Checked

The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias.

The Sleep Foundation fact-checking guidelines are as follows:

We only cite reputable sources when researching our guides and articles. These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners.
All scientific data and information must be backed up by at least one reputable source. Each guide and article includes a comprehensive bibliography with full citations and links to the original sources.
Some guides and articles feature links to other relevant Sleep Foundation pages. These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information.
A member of our medical expert team provides a final review of the content and sources cited for every guide, article, and product review concerning medical- and health-related topics. Inaccurate or unverifiable information will be removed prior to publication.
Plagiarism is never tolerated. Writers and editors caught stealing content or improperly citing sources are immediately terminated, and we will work to rectify the situation with the original publisher(s)
Although Sleep Foundation maintains affiliate partnerships with brands and e-commerce portals, these relationships never have any bearing on our product reviews or recommendations. Read our full Advertising Disclosure for more information.

The next generation of Apple Watch will detect instances of sleep apnea, according to Bloomberg. The Apple Watch Series 10, also called Apple Watch X, is scheduled to be released in 2024. The addition of this sleep-related function may be a boon for people with this common but serious sleep disorder.

Nearly 30 million people in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea, Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source but about 80% of them don’t know they have the sleep disorder. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, undiagnosed sleep apnea costs about $150 billion each year due to work accidents, car crashes, lost productivity, and related illnesses. Trusted Source American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. View Source

Sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep, narrowing or blocking the upper airway. This narrowing can cause loud snoring and frequent pauses in breathing that often interrupt sleep by briefly waking the sleeper. With frequent wakings, people with sleep apnea don’t get sufficient restful sleep. The disorder is also linked to a higher risk of attention and memory issues, heart disease, and many other health problems. Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source

Reports claim the Apple Watch Series 10 will be able to recognize sleep apnea by detecting snoring and measuring heart rate, breathing rate, body movements, and sleep patterns. Previous Apple Watches can also track some health measures, such as heart rate, sleep patterns, and blood oxygen levels.

The new Apple Watch won’t be able to definitively diagnose sleep apnea–only a doctor can do that. Instead, when it detects sleep apnea symptoms, it will alert the Apple Watch wearer to contact their doctor. From there, the sleeper’s doctor can refer them for testing. If diagnosed, the doctor can treat them for sleep apnea.

Doctors usually diagnose sleep apnea with a sleep study or home sleep apnea test. Sleep studies require a person to spend the night in a hospital or sleep center. Home sleep apnea tests may be a good option for people who may be reluctant to get checked at a hospital or sleep center. And for people who suspect they have sleep apnea because they snore or have other symptoms but have been putting off getting checked, an alert from their wearable tech may prompt them to see their doctor sooner.

In addition to alerting people to sleep apnea signs, the new Apple Watch is also reported to send alerts when blood pressure is high. This feature may also help people with sleep apnea since the disorders are often linked.

Got a hot tip? Pitch us your story idea, share your expertise with SleepFoundation.org, or let us know about your sleep experiences right here.