Apple has introduced a new sleep apnea detection feature for Apple Watch users in Australia, designed to monitor breathing disturbances during sleep over a period of at least 10 nights within 30 days.

This feature provides users with a PDF report via the health app, detailing three months of breathing disturbance data, which can be discussed with healthcare professionals.

Notifications from the watch aim to prompt users to consult healthcare providers if signs of sleep apnea are detected, encouraging early intervention.

Sleep specialist Dr. David Cunnington stresses that increased awareness through wearable notifications could encourage more people to seek medical help for sleep apnea, which is frequently underdiagnosed.

Users are advised to follow the instructions carefully, as the feature is intended to assist, not replace, traditional medical diagnosis or treatment.

Approval from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration was necessary before activating the feature, causing some delays compared to other countries.

The technology can detect breathing disturbances with a medically accurate level, indicating potential sleep apnea, a condition affecting about five percent of Australians and often underdiagnosed.

Dr. Matt Bianchi from Apple highlighted that approximately one billion people worldwide may have sleep apnea, with 80% remaining undiagnosed, emphasizing the importance of such detection tools.

Users need to update their devices to the latest operating system to access the sleep apnea monitoring feature.

Sleep apnea affects an estimated five percent of Australians and can cause serious health issues like high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks, yet remains underdiagnosed.

The software is not a diagnostic tool but indicates symptoms of moderate to severe sleep apnea, prompting users to seek medical advice.

Experts see wearables as valuable in collecting long-term sleep data to aid in diagnosing and monitoring sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.

The feature is available on compatible Apple Watch models, including Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2, which must run the latest OS versions.