When Your Sleep Apnea App Flags a Problem: What to Do Next
Dr. Martin Hopp MD, ENT
Smartphone apps are becoming increasingly integrated into healthcare, offering convenient ways to monitor health metrics from the comfort of your home. One exciting development in this space is the recent FDA clearance of Apple’s iPhone sleep apnea detection feature. These apps are a great tool for raising awareness about sleep apnea and snoring, giving people a way to screen themselves for potential issues. But what happens when your app flags a problem?
While these smartphone apps can be eye-opening, they aren’t designed to give you a formal diagnosis of sleep apnea. If your app suggests a potential issue, it’s essential to take the next step and get a professional sleep test. The good news is that most people can complete an affordable at-home sleep test to either confirm or rule out sleep apnea.
How Sleep Apnea Apps Work
Smartphone apps equipped with sleep apnea detection capabilities analyze factors like breathing patterns, movement, and sometimes even heart rate. The Apple iPhone’s recently FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection feature is a prime example. By tracking sleep data through sensors in your phone or smartwatch, it can provide insights into whether you may be experiencing sleep disruptions, like snoring or possible apnea events.
However, it’s important to understand that these apps are screening tools—not diagnostic tools. They are great at raising red flags, but they can't definitively diagnose or rule out sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a complex condition that requires a more thorough evaluation, and this is where a professional sleep test comes into play.
Why You Still Need a Professional Sleep Test
Sleep apnea diagnosis involves measuring several physiological factors like oxygen levels, heart rate, and the number of breathing pauses during sleep, which smartphone apps simply cannot do with the required accuracy.
A sleep test (aka sleep study), whether done at a sleep clinic or with an at-home sleep test, will provide a detailed analysis of your sleep patterns and overall health during sleep. This test can either rule out or confirm the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and will guide the appropriate treatment plan if needed.
Convenient At-Home Sleep Testing
Fortunately, today’s advancements mean that many sleep tests can now be completed at home instead of requiring an overnight stay in a sleep clinic. The at-home sleep test is easy to use, and once completed, a physician then analyzes the results and provides a diagnosis, either ruling out or confirming the presence of OSA.
If you receive concerning results from your smartphone app, getting an at-home sleep test is a quick and convenient next step. Daybreak not only provides FDA-cleared at-home sleep tests, but we also offer a convenient &effective treatment option, a custom-made mandibular advancement device (MAD).
The Bottom Line
Sleep apnea detection apps like the Apple iPhone’s feature are fantastic for raising awareness and encouraging people to take their sleep health seriously. However, if your app flags a potential problem, it’s crucial to follow up with a professional sleep test. With Daybreak’s at-home sleep testing and treatment solutions, you can get an accurate diagnosis and start the treatment you need to improve your sleep and overall health.
Don’t rely solely on your smartphone alone. Take the next step toward better sleep and health with a professional sleep test. With the availability of convenient at-home testing, getting an official diagnosis has never been easier.