FDA approves Apple Watch sleep apnea detection tool [Video]

A week after Apple held an event revealing its new iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPod models, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an Apple Watch function that can detect sleep apnea in device-wearers.

The sleep apnea detection tool comes four days before the launch date of Apple’s new Series 10 watch, which will be released on September 20. Those with existing Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 models can use the sleep apnea feature starting today, however, with download of Apple’s newly released watchOS 11 software.

People who suffer from sleep apnea repeatedly stop and start breathing overnight and can, as a result, feel tired in the morning. Left undetected, sleep apnea can cause heart problems and other complications, in serious cases. Loud snoring can sometimes be a symptom. The condition affects an estimated 1 billion people worldwide and is …