What Your Nighttime Breathing Says About Your Health
1 min read
Summary
Sleep apnea affects an estimated 1 billion people globally and occurs when a person’s upper airway collapses during sleep, stopping their breathing and lowering oxygen levels.
The condition causes people to wake up feeling exhausted and can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and obesity.
It also plays a significant role in exacerbating anxiety and depression and is a potential biomarker for neurological illnesses, including Alzheimer’s.
Diagnosis for sleep apnea currently relies on a partner noticing a person’s heavy snoring, but wearable tech companies are racing to develop new diagnostics.
The first wearable to receive approval for sleep apnea detection is Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, but experts caution that the technology is not a replacement for a full clinical diagnosis.
The gold standard for treatment remains CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), but other interventions, including didgeridoos, have also proved effective.
