Sleep apnea is a serious condition causes people to pause breathing while asleep, potentially disrupting oxygen supply, lowering sleep quality, and leading to health complications including hypertension and stroke. Despite these risks, the disorder largely goes unnoticed because getting a diagnosis usually requires time-consuming and costly in-lab sleep studies
To mark World Sleep Day 2026, a global study of Samsung Health users1 is shedding new light on the true extent of the condition and the disruptive impact it has on your sleep. Aligned with this year’s World Sleep Day theme, “Sleep Well, Live Better,” Samsung is turning the invisible signs of sleep apnea into actionable insights through its Galaxy Watch series, helping those affected improve their sleep habits and overall health.
How Does Sleep Apnea Impact Your Sleep?
The report found that 23% of study participants are at risk of sleep apnea
“The microarousals and awakenings that follow breathing pauses fragment your sleep,” explains behavioral sleep scientist Dr. Vanessa Hill. “Those occurrences can prevent the brain from staying in the REM and deep sleep stages necessary for cognitive and physical restoration.”
The report shows these constant disruptions take a direct toll on sleep duration and quality, leading to:
- Reduced REM Sleep: Participants with moderate to severe sleep apnea indicators detected by their Galaxy Watch got around four minutes less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the phase where our brains process emotions, consolidate memories and cement learning. Without enough of it, people can experience mood instability and memory problems, impacting performance at work and overall well-being.
- Less Deep Sleep: Sleep apnea also robs sufferers of deep sleep, approximately eight minutes lessper night, on average. This is the body’s critical physical restoration phase, where growth hormones are released, muscles are repaired, and your immune system is activated. Losing out on deep sleep is why you may feel physically exhausted, have slower recovery times, and get sick more often.
- Frequent Nightly Awakenings: Study participants with signs of sleep apnea also woke up regularly during the night and stayed awake around four minutes longer. These interruptions derail the sleep cycle, locking you into lighter, less restorative stages and making next-day exhaustion inevitable, no matter how long you slept.
- Shorter Sleep Duration: Overall, people with a higher likelihood of sleep apnea slept, on average, around 12 minutes less. While this loss may seem minor, it can have a significant impact on overall sleep quality as your sleep cycle gets fragmented throughout the night.
Why It Matters
“Even a small loss in sleep duration is compounded by a larger loss of sleep quality,” said Dr. Hill. “This can be the difference between simply being ‘in bed’ and getting restorative rest, which could be why people feel so tired the next day.”
Dr. Hill also advocates a multidimensional approach to sleep health. “Sleep apnea affects many dimensions of sleep — duration, quality, sleep efficiency and even daytime fatigue,” she stated. “They together help determine our health and functioning.”
With sleep apnea shown to impact all aspects of sleep and lead to other health complications, detection is an essential first step in the fight against the condition
How Does Galaxy Watch Help Detect Signs of Moderate to Severe Sleep Apnea?
For years, sleep apnea has been difficult to detect due to the need for inconvenient hospital tests. However, Samsung offers at-home detection with a first-of-its-kind Sleep Apnea2 feature on your Galaxy Watch
- How It Works: Users simply track their sleep with a compatible Galaxy Watch3 for more than four hours over two nights within a 10-day period. Available through the Samsung Health Monitor app, the Sleep Apnea feature enables users to proactively spot signs of the condition. Initially launched in Korea, the feature has since received De Novo authorization from the U.S. FDA and is now available in 78 markets,4 and counting, worldwide.
- The Technology: Leveraging Galaxy Watch’s BioActive Sensor, the feature tracks blood oxygen levels to determine when the user stops breathing (apnea) or is not breathing enough (hypopnea). Based on this data, the feature estimates the user’s Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which indicates the severity of obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).
- From Awareness to Action: By detecting signs of sleep apnea early, the feature provides the data needed for an informed consultation with a medical professional. In addition to tackling sleep apnea, your Galaxy Watch can help you build habits for better holistic sleep health. Features include the Sleep Coaching5program for detailed analysis and tips on how to improve sleep quality and Bedtime Guidance,6 which recommends your optimal bedtime to ensure you consistently get enough sleep.
“For years, the inconvenience of an in-lab clinical sleep study has been a barrier to diagnosing sleep apnea,” added Dr. Hill. “Wearable technology such as Galaxy Watch is a breakthrough because it democratizes that first step. It allows people to gather meaningful data from their own beds, providing a starting point for a conversation with a healthcare professional.”
Take Control of Your Night
A good night’s sleep is the first step toward a healthier, more energized life, and Samsung is here to guide you. Samsung’s ecosystem offers end-to-end care, from detecting signs of sleep apnea on your Galaxy Watch to providing suggestions to receive professional advice
Looking ahead, Samsung is constantly innovating and improving the Sleep Apnea feature to make it even more powerful with sharper insights. Prioritize your rest today to unlock a healthier tomorrow
1 Samsung Health users from the U.S., South Korea, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Chile, South Africa, and the Philippines participated in the study from January–June 2025.
2 The Samsung Sleep Apnea Feature is listed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Mobile experience Business with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter device to assess risk of sleep apnea. This device is intended to provide a notification of the risk of sleep apnea in users who have not been previously diagnosed with sleep apnea. It uses software algorithms to analyze input sensor signals and provide a risk assessment for sleep apnea. It is not intended to provide a stand-alone diagnosis, replace traditional methods of diagnosis (e.g., polysomnography), assist clinicians in diagnosing sleep disorders, or be used as an apnea monitor. Consult your physician if you have any questions regarding sleep apnea. Availability may vary by market, carrier, model or a paired smartphone.
3 Availability may vary by market, carrier, model, or a paired smartphone. Available on Galaxy Watch4 series and later models. The watch requires the Wear OS 5.0 version or later and must be paired with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone with Android 12.0 or later.
4 Supported markets include Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norfolk Island, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Réunion, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen.
5 Must wear device for 7 nights during a 30 night period.
6 Bedtime Guidance: Must wear watch for 3 consecutive nights and set optimal wake-up time in the Samsung Health app.
Tags
Digital Health, Galaxy Watch, Health and Wellness, Samsung Health
