About five months ago, when I reviewed the Apple Watch Series 10, one of my favorite highlights in The Goods section was the Vital App. It introduced Sleep Apnea detection, a feature I dived into in great detail because of how crucial it can be. But today, we’re taking it a step further – why this feature isn’t just a neat addition, but something that could genuinely change your life. And no, I’m not exaggerating. You, yes you reading this right now, might just be the one who needs this the most!
Before we go any further, let me hit you with some hard facts – why sleep is something you should never take for granted. Trust me, I learned this the hard way. A couple of years back, I was diagnosed with hypertension and high blood pressure, joining the ranks of one of the deadliest health issues in my country. It got so bad that I suffered two mild strokes before reality finally smacked me in the face. My doctor wasted no time putting me on blood pressure meds, and not just a small dose either – my readings were way off the charts. On top of that, I had to check my blood pressure twice a day, every day, because if it spiked too much, it could have led to serious, irreversible damage. Sounds terrifying? Well, buckle up – we’re just getting started.
Nearly six months in, after countless blood pressure checks and multiple rounds of switching medications – thanks to some nasty allergic reactions – my readings still refused to budge into a safer zone. Normally, blood pressure fluctuates between morning and night, but for me? Flatline. No difference. It was as if the meds weren’t doing a thing, and there was no clear pattern to explain why. Desperate for answers, I even took extended leave from work, thinking maybe job stress was the culprit. But nope, no change. And let me tell you, when you’re stuck in this situation, panic alone feels like it could make things worse. Throw in a dose of depression, and I started to lose hope entirely. Ever seen someone so sick that they lose all motivation for life? Yeah… that was me.
At this point, my younger sister (who happens to be a doctor) gave me a piece of advice that would change everything. She suspected I had Sleep Apnea, just like my mother, and insisted that getting it diagnosed could be the key to fixing my problem. Now, when you’re desperately searching for answers, any advice sounds like solid advice. So without hesitation, I booked myself in for a Sleep Study, hoping this would finally shed some light on what was really going on. Guess what happened next?
Let that sink in for a moment. An AHI level of 30 is already considered severe; mine? A staggering 64.8. Hypopnea events were off the charts, and there was no sugarcoating it, I needed a CPAP machine. After thorough research, I settled on the ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset, and if you’re in the market for one, take my advice: just get this. Trust me, investing in a good CPAP machine is crucial because you’re going to be using it for a very long time. Sleep Apnea isn’t something that magically disappears, even after years of treatment. So, make it count and get something that’s worth every cent. I’m not here to review the machine, so I’ll leave that for you to discover. But when you do, you’ll see exactly why this one stands out.
Why am I sharing something as personal as my health report? Because this is the only way I can truly spread awareness. Sleep Apnea affects over 1 billion people, and the scariest part is that most of them go undiagnosed. I know this firsthand. Never in my wildest dreams (pun intended) did I think I had it. And at such a young age, no less. But as I dug deeper, I realized the early signs were always there. We just laughed them off, never taking them seriously. You know what I am talking about. Snoring. If you have developed a habit of snoring consistently, and someone tells you that you sound like you are choking or gasping in your sleep, do not brush it off. Take it seriously. You might already have Sleep Apnea at a dangerously high level.
Or, you can just get an Apple Watch now!
Starting today, Apple is rolling out brand-new sleep and hearing health features for Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2 in Malaysia, reinforcing its commitment to helping users take charge of their well-being. With billions of people affected by sleep and hearing conditions globally, these updates bring smarter and more accessible solutions right to your wrist and ears.
The standout feature? Apple Watch now offers sleep apnea notifications using an innovative Breathing Disturbances metric. This adds another layer to how the device acts as your intelligent health guardian, keeping tabs on your well-being while you sleep.
A Smarter Way to Detect Sleep Apnea
Sleep is one of the most critical aspects of overall health, yet sleep apnea remains a silent threat that often goes undiagnosed. This condition, which causes breathing interruptions during sleep, affects over a billion people worldwide. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Apple Watch’s new Breathing Disturbances feature leverages the accelerometer to detect subtle wrist movements linked to abnormal breathing patterns during sleep. Every 30 days, the watch analyzes this data and notifies users if consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea are detected. This allows them to take action by consulting a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Beyond detecting sleep apnea, the feature also helps assess overall sleep quality. Factors like alcohol, medication, and sleep position can influence Breathing Disturbances, giving users a more detailed view of their nightly rest. All of this data is easily accessible in the Health app, where users can track their trends over one month, six months, or a year.
To make discussions with doctors easier, users can even export a PDF report containing three months’ worth of breathing disturbance data, along with additional insights on when sleep apnea symptoms may have occurred. Apple also provides educational articles within the Health app to help users better understand the condition and its risks.
The sleep apnea detection algorithm was developed using advanced machine learning and was validated through one of the largest clinical studies ever conducted for sleep apnea technology. Every participant identified by Apple’s algorithm had at least mild sleep apnea, demonstrating the reliability of this feature.
With these new updates, Apple Watch now offers a complete package for sleep health, alongside its existing capabilities like overnight heart rate and respiratory rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and goal setting. Apple continues to push the boundaries of health technology, and with these latest features, taking control of your sleep and hearing health has never been easier.
Sleep Apnea Detection is not the only thing coming to Apple Health
On the other hand, AirPods Pro 2 is making waves with the world’s first all-in-one hearing health experience. It introduces a clinically validated Hearing Test, an over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature, and Loud Sound Reduction. This software-based hearing aid makes hearing assistance more accessible than ever, giving users a practical and affordable solution without the need for specialized medical devices.
Apple Expands Hearing Health Features with AirPods Pro 2
Hearing health is often overlooked, yet it plays a crucial role in overall well-being. Apple is addressing this with a groundbreaking set of features for AirPods Pro 2, designed to help users prevent hearing loss, monitor their hearing capabilities, and even receive assistance through an innovative over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature.
Protecting Your Ears from Loud Environments
Exposure to high noise levels is a leading cause of hearing loss, often going unnoticed until it’s too late. According to the Apple Hearing Study, one in three people regularly experience loud noise exposure from everyday activities like commuting, attending concerts, or even mowing the lawn. To help minimize this risk, Apple has introduced Loud Sound Reduction on AirPods Pro 2.
This feature, powered by the H2 chip, actively reduces loud noises while maintaining audio clarity. Whether you’re in a crowded city or at a live event, AirPods Pro 2 can adjust in real time to preserve sound quality while protecting your ears.
Clinical-Grade Hearing Test at Home
Hearing loss often progresses slowly, making it difficult to notice until it becomes a significant issue. To address this, Apple is introducing a built-in Hearing Test for AirPods Pro 2, allowing users to assess their hearing health anytime, anywhere.
This test, based on the clinical pure-tone audiometry method, takes just five minutes and provides an easy-to-understand summary, including a classification of hearing loss for each ear. The results are securely stored in the Health app, where they can be shared with a healthcare provider for further evaluation.
AirPods Pro 2 as an Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid
For users with mild to moderate hearing loss, Apple is taking accessibility a step further by turning AirPods Pro 2 into a clinical-grade hearing aid. Using the personalized hearing profile generated from the Hearing Test, AirPods can dynamically adjust and amplify sounds in real time, helping users engage in conversations and stay connected to their surroundings.
Unlike traditional hearing aids, this feature is software-based, making it more affordable and widely accessible. Once set up, it automatically enhances audio across phone calls, music, and other media without requiring additional adjustments. Users can also integrate audiograms from hearing professionals for even more precise customization.
Smarter Audio with Media Assist
Beyond hearing loss, Apple is also making audio experiences better for everyone. Media Assist, a new feature, enhances specific elements of sound such as speech during phone calls or instruments in music ensuring a clearer and richer listening experience.
A Step Forward in Hearing Health
These features build upon Apple’s existing hearing health tools, including noise level alerts on Apple Watch and volume limits on iPhone. By integrating advanced hearing technology directly into AirPods Pro 2, Apple is making hearing care more accessible, customizable, and convenient for millions of users worldwide.
Pokdepinion: I wish these were available way earlier but I can only wish now. At least I hope my sharing saves someone somewhere in the world still.
