Have you ever felt jealous of people who fall into a deep slumber as soon as they hit the bed? Or are you someone who struggles to fall asleep? Sleep comes at different paces and intensities in different people. Even though it may sound simple, sleep plays a pivotal role in maintaining our health and well-being. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly while sleeping. Meanwhile, tech giant Apple has unveiled the latest sleep apnea detection feature in its series 10 watch.

What is sleep apnea?
Breathing takes place naturally, even if we are deep asleep. However, in some people, breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep. Sleep apnea is a major sleep disorder suffered by over 1 billion people worldwide. Men suffer from sleep apnea more than women. Even though sleep apnea can happen to anyone, irrespective of age, those who are above 50 are in the risky category. People with obesity, those who have thick necks, low nasal bridges, obstructive throats, tonsilitis, swollen mouth floor, huge mouth floor, alcohol addicts and smokers may be prone to sleep apnea. Besides, sleep apnea may be caused in those who suffer from thyroid issues, distorted chin bones and brain damage. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat and tongue muscles relax, blocking the airflow. Even though this is common, some people find it difficult to draw in breath, leading to snoring.

Symptoms
Loud snoring, lack of sleep, gasping for air during sleep, feeling tired and lethargic in the morning, excessive daytime sleepiness and headache are some symptoms of sleep apnea. Besides, you may also suffer from lack of concentration, forgetfulness, increased heart rate, stress, anxiety, depression and short-tempered nature. Moreover, you may experience a low sex drive or suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart ailments. Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the major reasons for refractory hypertension, which is difficult to treat.

What can your Apple device do?
According to Apple, the new Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods Pro 2 will have a new metric called Breathing Disturbances. It can detect wrist movements connected to respiratory patterns. At the same time, a user sleeps, and every 30 days, the data will be analysed and alerted to users if signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea appear. This can help patients make timely diagnoses and treatments. The feature will soon be available in more than 150 countries. Apple is also offering the “World’s first all-in-one hearing health experience with AirPods Pro with active Hearing Protection,2 a clinically validated Hearing Test feature, and an over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature,” according to its website.

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