My Apple Watch thinks I have sleep apnea. Now what?

Let’s talk zzzs—who’s getting them, who isn’t, and why.

Can you remember the last time you woke up feeling like you could use another hour? We’ll be the first to admit it—we’re raising our hands over here. You’re in good (if tired) company: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adult Americans report not getting enough sleep.

The root of your poor sleep could be a disorder you don’t know you have. Sleep apnea affects an estimated 30 million Americans—but approximately 80% of moderate to severe sleep apnea cases are undiagnosed.  

Sleep apnea carries serious risks, including type 2 diabetes and cardiac issues. Since it’s considered a treatable disorder, detection is a key first step. A new Apple Watch feature might help.

The Apple Watch series and sleep apnea detection

In September 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had approved the Apple Watch sleep apnea detection feature. Now, the Apple Watch Series 10, or the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 (updated to WatchOS 11) can provide metrics that alert you to the signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. 

What is sleep apnea?

There are a few types, but when people say sleep apnea, they’re referring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is caused by throat muscles relaxing during sleep, causing the throat’s soft tissue to block airways. As a result, your breathing can stop for 20-30 seconds at a time, perhaps hundreds of times a night. This sets off a cascade of sympathetic nervous system responses—you’re deprived of oxygen, your adrenaline spikes, and your heart rate and blood pressure increase. Snoring can happen when air squeezes through the relaxed throat muscles, causing the soft tissue to vibrate. Rather than being restful and restorative, sleeping becomes a restless struggle to breathe.

What are the effects of sleep apnea?

It probably doesn’t come as a shock that all of these symptoms translate to poor sleep—and this can affect you and those around you. You’re up to 2.5 times more likely to get into a car accident and are more prone to workplace accidents, depression, and impacted mood. The snoring and restless sleep may also affect your bedmate, if you have one. A review of studies found that partners of heavy snorers or those with sleep apnea are three times more likely to report symptoms of insomnia. 

The link between sleep apnea and weight

Weight and sleep are closely tied. Excess weight can increase the size of the neck and the amount of soft tissue in your throat, which can cause blockage.

Untreated, sleep apnea can also make it more difficult to lose weight since disrupted or poor-quality sleep can prompt overeating. It also raises the risk of heart disease by a whopping 30%. 

There’s a strong link between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, possibly because chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system can lead to insulin resistance disrupting blood sugar control. 

I’m ready to try a tracker! How do they measure sleep disturbances?

At-home sleep trackers commonly rely on an accelerometer—a built-in sensor in many smartwatches that detects movement at the wrist. The FDA has approved several wearable devices for detecting the signs of sleep apnea. Of these, two are mainstream: the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch. 

These trackers infer sleep and sleep stages from small movements in combination with other vitals, including heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature. The main difference between the Apple and Samsung watches is the latter’s ability to measure blood oxygen levels.

A wearable’s strength is in tracking consistent signs and identifying patterns over time. For example, the Apple Watch sleep apnea feature’s algorithm analyzes breathing disturbance data over 30 days.

The limitations, however, are notable: one size does not fit all. If a wearer is overweight or has a pre-existing heart condition like atrial fibrillation, inferring conditions from metrics becomes less accurate.

Ok, so my watch metrics point to sleep apnea. What now?

If your health app is telling you you might have sleep apnea, you’ll need to consult with a health care provider. They’ll help you decide the next steps toward getting a diagnosis. Depending on your symptoms, they will likely assign you to either an in-lab sleep study or an at-home sleep study.

If your provider diagnoses you with sleep apnea, they may prescribe a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which uses air pressure to keep your airways open while you sleep. These machines are effective, but they require consistent use. Some people have to try different masks to find a comfortable fit. 

How losing weight can help treat sleep apnea

There is a direct relationship between weight and sleep apnea. The great news? Those seeking to improve disordered breathing can feel the difference, starting with moderate weight loss. Among people who have moderate obesity, losing 10% to 15% of body weight can reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea by as much as 50%, according to the Sleep Foundation.  

Can Mounjaro help with sleep apnea? 

Yes. In June 2024, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly released results of the phase 3 clinical trial SURMOUNT-OSA showing that doses of 10 mg or 15 mg of the weight-loss dual agonist drug tirzepatide (sold under the brand names Mounjaro® and Zepbound®) reduced moderate-to-severe sleep apnea in adults with obesity by up to 62.8% at 52 weeks, resulting in about 30 fewer events of airflow restriction per hour, with or without positive airway pressure therapy. These drugs aren’t yet approved by the FDA specifically for treating sleep apnea—but depending on your health, your provider may prescribe them off-label.

While tirzepatide is effective for weight loss, it is not clinically appropriate for everyone. People with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 should not take tirzepatide. Do not take tirzepatide if you have ever had thyroid cancer. Tirzepatide can cause fetal harm. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant, do not take tirzepatide.  Read details about side effects and risks on our dedicated tirzepatide page.

Eligibility for these drugs at Found is based on a provider’s evaluation of your medical history, MetabolicPrint^TM, and lab work. If tirzepatide is not appropriate for you, our providers will work with you to determine an effective medication for your health profile. Prescriptions are at a care provider’s discretion.

At Found, we understand that everyone’s path to health is different. Our care providers specialize in obesity medicine, and understand how it impacts related conditions like sleep apnea. They can personalize a weight care program that works for you and help you find the right combination of trusted, effective medication and lifestyle change. 

Our program is created by leading experts trained in weight loss medicine, and we offer a judgment-free zone and 1:1 health coaching to support you at every step.

Found is among the largest medically-supported telehealth weight care clinics in the country, having served more than 250,000 members to date. To start your journey with Found, take our quiz.