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Apple Watch sleep apnea detection gets FDA clearance

Pink Series 9 on a reflective pink surface.
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple’s new sleep apnea detection feature has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration — and Watch Series 9 or Watch Ultra 2 owners can use it starting today.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes people to suddenly stop breathing during sleep. The new feature, which is rolling out as part of the watchOS 11 update, will use the Apple Watch’s accelerometer to detect small wrist movements linked with breathing disturbances during sleep. Apple will then use this information to alert users of possible moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Image: Apple

You can find and track the new “breathing disturbances” metric in the Health app, where you can also download data to share it with a doctor. Apple says its sleep…

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