Your Smartwatch Alerted that you may have sleep Apnea
Now What?
Your Apple Watch has alerted you to potential signs of sleep apnea by monitoring breathing disturbances during sleep.
Utilizing its accelerometer, the watch detects subtle wrist movements associated with interruptions in normal respiratory patterns. If these disturbances reach levels linked to moderate to severe sleep apnea, the device notifies you, prompting further medical evaluation.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes and may occur multiple times per hour. The two primary types are obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), caused by the relaxation of throat muscles blocking the airway, and central sleep apnea (CSA), where the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles controlling breathing.
Dr. Marianna Kaufman, with her advanced training in sleep-disordered breathing, specializes in identifying and treating sleep apnea to help you achieve better sleep and overall health. Common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
