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Samsung's upcoming sleep apnea detection feature in its Health Monitor app has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will launch in the US later this year, the tech firm announced Friday.
The FDA, which also approves medical devices, granted Samsung's sleep apnea feature a De Novo authorization, which is typically granted to new products in the healthcare field. South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety previously approved the same feature in October.
Samsung's Health Monitor app for the Galaxy Watch can also detect irregular heart rhythms and monitor blood pressure, according to the company's website.
Sleep apnea is a medically diagnosable condition where a narrowed or blocked air passage causes sleep disruption, snoring, or other health issues. The National Sleep Foundation states that sleep apnea can cause fatigue, lower sleep quality, and increase one's risk for hypertension, heart failure, and even stroke.
Obstructive sleep apnea is also pretty common in the US, affecting over 39 million Americans, according to the National Council on Aging.
Samsung's sleep apnea feature is authorized for users over 22 years old who suspect they may have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and have not yet been diagnosed. But Samsung warns that users who discover they have sleep apnea symptoms should consult their medical provider instead of relying on watch data alone.
The new sleep apnea feature is expected to become available for US Samsung Galaxy smartwatch users sometime between July and October this year, Samsung says.
While Samsung rival Apple doesn't offer a dedicated sleep apnea feature, the Apple Watch does offer some sleep tracking features, including a respiratory rate tracker that monitors breathing. That said, Apple notes that its breath tracker is "not intended for medical use."