The FDA has authorized the sleep apnea detection feature for the Samsung Galaxy Watch, clearing the way for a software update for the Samsung Health Monitor app in the third quarter of this year that will enable the feature for US users. South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety last fall approved using wearable devices to detect breathing interruptions commonly associated with sleep disorders, and the update will be released there first.
To use this feature users will need to sleep with their Samsung Galaxy Watch on and have their sleep monitored twice (for a minimum period of four hours each) within a 10 day period. The Galaxy Watch can monitor the wearer's blood oxygen levels throughout the night to see if they are dropping, which is a common sign of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. According to the Mayo Clinic, breathing interruptions during sleep include central sleep apnea (when your brain doesn't send signals to your breathing muscles) and obstructive sleep apnea (when your throat muscles prevent air from reaching your lungs). One of the main symptoms of both. ,