A wake-up call for sleep health - the role of smartwatches in diagnosing sleep disorders
This silent health issue can have serious consequences. Untreated sleep apnoea is associated with a number of serious health risks like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. Risk factors include being male, over the age of 30, having a narrow airway, being overweight, smoking, and consuming alcohol – all of which can contribute to the airway collapsing during sleep.
Despite the long-term implications of untreated sleep apnoea, lack of awareness remains the greatest barrier to treatment. It is estimated that 80% of affected adults are unaware of their condition. However, recent developments in wearable technology are beginning to shine a light on this silent health issue. With Apple and Samsung now introducing sleep apnoea detection features in their smartwatches, consumers are gaining new tools to better understand their sleep health. While these innovations are exciting, they also raise an important question regarding how far everyday consumer technology can go in detecting a medical condition like sleep apnoea.
Smartwatches step into sleep health
In 2024, Apple announced that its Apple Watch would begin offering sleep apnoea notifications using a new "Breathing Disturbances" metric. This feature, available in over 150 countries, aims to alert users to signs of potential sleep apnoea, encouraging them to seek professional evaluation. Similarly, Samsung's Galaxy Watch now includes a sleep apnoea detection feature that has received regulatory approval in several countries, including Australia and the US. Developed in collaboration with Stanford Medicine, Samsung's tool monitors for signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and is part of a broader push to integrate AI into daily health monitoring.
These features represent a significant step forward in consumer health technology driving broader awareness and empowering users to take a more active role in their wellbeing and may help prompt earlier conversations with healthcare providers.
However, it's crucial to understand that these tools are not diagnostic devices. They are designed to raise awareness, not replace a clinical diagnosis. They do not meet the clinical standards (accuracy, specificity, sensitivity) of validated diagnostic tools like polysomnography or home sleep apnoea tests.
Why a professional diagnosis still matters
Sleep apnoea is a complex medical condition that requires a comprehensive evaluation. A formal diagnosis typically involves an overnight sleep study, either in a lab or at home, where a range of physiological signals including airflow, respiratory effort, oxygen levels, brain activity, and heart rate are monitored. This level of detail is essential to accurately determine the severity of the condition, to validate other complications and to tailor the appropriate treatment.
While smartwatches can detect patterns that suggest disrupted breathing, they cannot capture the full picture. Relying solely on wearable alerts could lead to false reassurance or unnecessary anxiety. That's why any indication of sleep apnoea from a smartwatch should be followed up with a consultation with a sleep specialist.
Technology's role in treating the condition
The use of technology goes beyond initial detection and formal diagnosis.
Once diagnosed, the gold-standard treatment for OSA is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. CPAP machines work by delivering a steady stream of air through a mask to keep the airway open during sleep. This non-invasive therapy can dramatically improve sleep quality, energy levels, and overall health.
Despite CPAP's proven benefits, adherence remains a major challenge. Studies suggest that as many as 40–60% of people either give up on CPAP therapy or don't use it consistently enough to see meaningful health benefits. This underlines the importance of making therapy easier, more personalised, and more engaging for patients from the very start.
Today's smart CPAP devices, such as the Philips DreamStation, use advanced pressure-adjusting algorithms and user-friendly designs to maximise comfort and make it easier for people to ease into therapy and remain on treatment in the long term.
When combined with mobile apps like Philips DreamMapper, which provides nightly usage stats, mask fit feedback, and progress tracking, patients are more likely to stay motivated. In fact, Philips research found DreamMapper users were 22% more likely to maintain therapy compared to those without it, thanks to the real-time insights and positive reinforcement the app offers. By celebrating milestones and visualising progress, patients are empowered to actively engage with their care, turning passive compliance into motivated ownership.
Personalisation also matters when it comes to mask fit. An ill-fitting mask can quickly derail therapy, which is why Philips offers mask guidance tools to help users find the most suitable mask to fit their unique needs.
Ultimately, CPAP is not a "set and forget solution". Ongoing support from a healthcare team is key. A connected care ecosystem underpinned by remote monitoring platforms such as Care Orchestrator enables care teams to proactively support their patients when needed. These platforms provide full visibility into patient data allowing them to monitor therapy, troubleshoot issues and optimise outcomes without delay – creating an integrated, closed-loop model of care that supports patients continuously through their treatment journey.
A promising future for sleep disorders
The integration of sleep apnoea detection into consumer wearables is a welcome development. It raises awareness, encourages proactive health management, and may help reduce the number of undiagnosed cases. But it's important to remember that these tools are just the beginning of the journey.
By combining the convenience of smart technology with the expertise of healthcare professionals and the proven effectiveness of CPAP therapy, we can ensure that more people get the help they need for better sleep and better health.
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Techday NZ
2 days ago
- Techday NZ
A wake-up call for sleep health - the role of smartwatches in diagnosing sleep disorders
Sleep apnoea is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed sleep disorders in Australia. Characterised by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, it affects around 20% of the population, with around one in four men over the age of 30 having it to some degree. This silent health issue can have serious consequences. Untreated sleep apnoea is associated with a number of serious health risks like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. Risk factors include being male, over the age of 30, having a narrow airway, being overweight, smoking, and consuming alcohol – all of which can contribute to the airway collapsing during sleep. Despite the long-term implications of untreated sleep apnoea, lack of awareness remains the greatest barrier to treatment. It is estimated that 80% of affected adults are unaware of their condition. However, recent developments in wearable technology are beginning to shine a light on this silent health issue. With Apple and Samsung now introducing sleep apnoea detection features in their smartwatches, consumers are gaining new tools to better understand their sleep health. While these innovations are exciting, they also raise an important question regarding how far everyday consumer technology can go in detecting a medical condition like sleep apnoea. Smartwatches step into sleep health In 2024, Apple announced that its Apple Watch would begin offering sleep apnoea notifications using a new "Breathing Disturbances" metric. This feature, available in over 150 countries, aims to alert users to signs of potential sleep apnoea, encouraging them to seek professional evaluation. Similarly, Samsung's Galaxy Watch now includes a sleep apnoea detection feature that has received regulatory approval in several countries, including Australia and the US. Developed in collaboration with Stanford Medicine, Samsung's tool monitors for signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and is part of a broader push to integrate AI into daily health monitoring. These features represent a significant step forward in consumer health technology driving broader awareness and empowering users to take a more active role in their wellbeing and may help prompt earlier conversations with healthcare providers. However, it's crucial to understand that these tools are not diagnostic devices. They are designed to raise awareness, not replace a clinical diagnosis. They do not meet the clinical standards (accuracy, specificity, sensitivity) of validated diagnostic tools like polysomnography or home sleep apnoea tests. Why a professional diagnosis still matters Sleep apnoea is a complex medical condition that requires a comprehensive evaluation. A formal diagnosis typically involves an overnight sleep study, either in a lab or at home, where a range of physiological signals including airflow, respiratory effort, oxygen levels, brain activity, and heart rate are monitored. This level of detail is essential to accurately determine the severity of the condition, to validate other complications and to tailor the appropriate treatment. While smartwatches can detect patterns that suggest disrupted breathing, they cannot capture the full picture. Relying solely on wearable alerts could lead to false reassurance or unnecessary anxiety. That's why any indication of sleep apnoea from a smartwatch should be followed up with a consultation with a sleep specialist. Technology's role in treating the condition The use of technology goes beyond initial detection and formal diagnosis. Once diagnosed, the gold-standard treatment for OSA is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. CPAP machines work by delivering a steady stream of air through a mask to keep the airway open during sleep. This non-invasive therapy can dramatically improve sleep quality, energy levels, and overall health. Despite CPAP's proven benefits, adherence remains a major challenge. Studies suggest that as many as 40–60% of people either give up on CPAP therapy or don't use it consistently enough to see meaningful health benefits. This underlines the importance of making therapy easier, more personalised, and more engaging for patients from the very start. Today's smart CPAP devices, such as the Philips DreamStation, use advanced pressure-adjusting algorithms and user-friendly designs to maximise comfort and make it easier for people to ease into therapy and remain on treatment in the long term. When combined with mobile apps like Philips DreamMapper, which provides nightly usage stats, mask fit feedback, and progress tracking, patients are more likely to stay motivated. In fact, Philips research found DreamMapper users were 22% more likely to maintain therapy compared to those without it, thanks to the real-time insights and positive reinforcement the app offers. By celebrating milestones and visualising progress, patients are empowered to actively engage with their care, turning passive compliance into motivated ownership. Personalisation also matters when it comes to mask fit. An ill-fitting mask can quickly derail therapy, which is why Philips offers mask guidance tools to help users find the most suitable mask to fit their unique needs. Ultimately, CPAP is not a "set and forget solution". Ongoing support from a healthcare team is key. A connected care ecosystem underpinned by remote monitoring platforms such as Care Orchestrator enables care teams to proactively support their patients when needed. These platforms provide full visibility into patient data allowing them to monitor therapy, troubleshoot issues and optimise outcomes without delay – creating an integrated, closed-loop model of care that supports patients continuously through their treatment journey. A promising future for sleep disorders The integration of sleep apnoea detection into consumer wearables is a welcome development. It raises awareness, encourages proactive health management, and may help reduce the number of undiagnosed cases. But it's important to remember that these tools are just the beginning of the journey. By combining the convenience of smart technology with the expertise of healthcare professionals and the proven effectiveness of CPAP therapy, we can ensure that more people get the help they need for better sleep and better health.
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05-08-2025
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The AI doctor will see you … soon
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NZ Herald
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Weather changes linked to migraines and joint pain, studies show
The term for this emerging field is meteoropathy: the study of physiological reactions to environmental changes, especially barometric shifts, that disrupt circulation and rattle the nervous system. Meteoropathic illness is not yet a formal diagnosis, but more scientists are finding evidence for it. 'Doctors have long minimised these complaints as subjective,' Sarah Mulukutla, a neurologist and adjunct professor at Yale, said. 'But that doesn't mean imaginary.' Evidence shows that atmospheric instability influences hormone levels, shifts that affect how pain is processed and may explain migraine attacks, joint stiffness and fatigue. Cumulative effects of weather stress Pain doctors are witnessing these effects first-hand. Pavan Tankha, who leads pain recovery at the Cleveland Clinic, said chronic discomfort often worsens during weather instability. One of his patients experiences intense pain flare-ups during spring storms. 'We're observing a weather-sensitive pain phenotype,' or patients who are sensitive to atmospheric swings, Tankha said. 'These effects aren't random. They're cumulative,' Vincent Martin, director of the University of Cincinnati's Headache and Facial Pain Centre, said. His team found that lightning within 40km of a home increases migraine risk by 31%. Both rising and falling air density can provoke migraines and tension headaches. A 2023 Japanese study using a barometric pressure-tracking app analysed over 336,000 headache events alongside weather records. It found that pressure drops, spikes in humidity and rainfall are strongly associated with increased headaches, confirming what many long suspected. Thanks to apps, symptom monitoring is getting smarter. Users log symptoms alongside atmospheric data and the app learns their storm signature – a unique pattern of weather changes, such as rising pressure or dropping temperature, linked to how their body responds. The personalised approach is catching on in the United States. Peterlin built on that model, creating three-day forecasts and collaborating with pharmaceutical teams on weather-based treatments. Wearable fitness and health technology products such as the Apple Watch and Whoop help researchers map the body's invisible reactions to weather in real time. According to the Artificial Intelligence Review, wearable sensors can now detect early signs of cardiovascular strain, stress and even mood instability. So, what's happening inside the body? As storms approach, air weight declines and humidity rises. Pain receptors, or nerve endings in joints, muscles and tissues that detect stress, pressure or temperature shifts, send signals through the spine to the brain, where pain and emotion register. The receptors may fire in response to shifts in intracranial pressure sensed by the brain, sinuses and carotid arteries. 'Even slight shifts disrupt balance,' UCLA neurologist Alan Rapoport said, especially for migraine sufferers. (Some 12% of people in the United States, primarily women, are said to experience migraines.) A broader view reveals just how much these fluctuations affect us. The State of Global Air report connects climate-driven changes in air quality, temperature and humidity to increased health risks across systems. The bigger the change, the stronger the body's response. 'I don't need to check the forecast. I feel it in my head,' Susan Cucchiara, a New York-based naturopathic doctor, said. She hydrates, walks and supplements with magnesium. 'It's about supporting your whole system.' Others echo that sentiment. Laurie Krupa, a patient of Cucchiara's in New Jersey, said that before storms, 'pain would flare in my knees, hips and whole body, not just my head'. Today, she finds relief through movement, minerals and nutrition. Weather can hit us hard. Cold fronts, low pressure and damp air may cause tissues to swell and joints to stiffen. The Arthritis Foundation notes that many people with arthritis experience flare-ups during weather changes, particularly when humidity rises or air pressure drops. The Annals of Medicine linked these shifts to increased osteoarthritis pain. Animal research also indicates that high humidity increases inflammatory cytokines, exacerbating joint discomfort. 'Stress, mood and inflammation all interact,' Terence Starz, a retired professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, said. He noted that tools such as the Weather & Arthritis Index help patients anticipate and manage pain episodes. Even the brain isn't immune. The Journal of Physiology reports that high altitude can alter cerebral blood flow. Changes in air density also occur in pressurised flights and incoming storms. 'When air gets lighter, the brain can swell,' which contributes to headaches, Rapoport said. Those most vulnerable usually have a family history of migraine, often compounded by insomnia, stress or hormonal shifts. Baltimore psychologist Andy Santanello offered a deeper insight: 'Weather used to mean danger: cold, scarcity, stress. Our nervous system evolved to react.' The body still carries that ancient imprint. The weather-health connection isn't new. In 1947, physician William F. Petersen proposed that environmental stressors could cause headaches – a theory once dismissed is now supported by neuroscience, real-time data and artificial intelligence (AI). 'Even Hippocrates wrote about this,' Peterlin, the former USDA meteorologist, said. 'Now science is finally proving it.' Help for managing symptoms The weather may be unpredictable, but your body can learn to move with it. Experts recommend: Keep a journal. Tracking your symptoms daily alongside weather patterns may help predict flare-ups. 'With patterns comes predictability,' Rapoport said. Hydrate and supplement. Rapoport also recommends magnesium and riboflavin (Vitamin B2) to reduce migraine frequency. Talk to your doctor. Move gently. Tai chi, walking and yoga improve circulation and joint flexibility. Starz advises staying active but listening to your pain cues. Practice mindfulness. Breathwork and meditation help regulate the nervous system. Mulukutla uses both in treating chronic pain. Use wearables. Tools such as the Apple Watch, Whoop, Migraine Mentor and N1-Headache help track patterns and atmospheric shifts. Be proactive. On sensitive days, prioritise sleep, limit stress and reduce screen time. These days, when the weather turns and my body knows it, I stretch, hydrate, rest – and check flights to somewhere sunnier.
