Millions worldwide suffer from sleep apnea, but 80% of sufferers¹ don’t even know they have it. This serious condition causes people to experience pauses in 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 users² is shedding new light on the true extent of sleep apnea and the disruptive impact it has on sleep. Aligned with this year’s World Sleep Day theme, “Sleep Well, Live Better,” Samsung Electronics is turning the invisible signs of the condition into actionable insights through the Galaxy Watch series, helping those affected improve their sleep habits and overall health.

How Does Sleep Apnea Impact Sleep?

The report found that 23% of study participants were at risk of sleep apnea.

“The microarousals and awakenings that follow breathing pauses fragment your sleep,” said behavioral sleep scientist Dr. Vanessa Hill. “Those occurrences can prevent the brain from staying in the rapid eye movement (REM) and deep sleep stages necessary for cognitive and physical restoration.”

The report showed 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 Galaxy Watch got around four minutes less REM sleep, the phase where the brain processes emotions, consolidates memories and cements 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 less per night on average. This is the body’s critical physical restoration phase, where growth hormone is released, muscles are repaired and the immune system is activated. Losing deep sleep may leave people feeling physically exhausted, experiencing slower recovery times and getting sick more often.
• Frequent Nightly Awakenings: Participants with signs of sleep apnea also woke up more regularly during the night and stayed awake around four minutes longer. These interruptions derail the sleep cycle, locking people into lighter, less restorative stages and making next-day exhaustion inevitable, no matter how long they slept.
• Shorter Sleep Duration: Overall, people with a higher likelihood of sleep apnea averaged around 12 minutes less sleep. While this loss may seem minor, it can significantly impact sleep quality as sleep cycles become 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 added. “Together, they help determine our health and functioning.”

With sleep apnea shown to impact multiple 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 Apnea³ feature on Galaxy Watch.

• How It Works: Users simply track their sleep with a compatible Galaxy Watch⁴ for more than four hours on two nights within a ten-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. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is now available in 78 markets⁵ worldwide and counting.
• The Technology: Leveraging Galaxy Watch’s BioActive Sensor, the feature tracks blood oxygen levels to determine when the user stops breathing (apnea) or experiences shallow breathing (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, Galaxy Watch can help users build habits for better holistic sleep health. Features include the Sleep Coaching program for detailed analysis and tips on how to improve sleep quality and Bedtime Guidance,⁶ which recommends optimal bedtimes to ensure consistent sleep.

“For years, the inconvenience of an in-lab clinical sleep study has been a barrier to diagnosing sleep apnea,” said Dr. Hill. “Wearable technology such as Galaxy Watch is a breakthrough because it democratizes that first step, allowing people to gather meaningful data from their own beds and providing a starting point for a conversation with a healthcare professional.”

Take Control of the Night

A good night’s sleep is the first step toward a healthier, more energized life, and Samsung is here to help guide users. Samsung’s ecosystem offers end-to-end care, from detecting signs of sleep apnea on Galaxy Watch to providing suggestions to seek professional advice.

Looking ahead, Samsung is constantly innovating and improving the Sleep Apnea feature to make it even more powerful with sharper insights. Prioritizing rest today can help unlock a healthier tomorrow.

1. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea National Indicator Report,” American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2023) ︎
2. Samsung Health users from the U.S., Korea, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Chile, South Africa and the Philippines participated in the study from January to June 2025. ︎
3. The Sleep Apnea feature is an over-the-counter (OTC), software-only, mobile medical application operating on a compatible Samsung Galaxy Watch and Galaxy smartphone. It is intended for on-demand use. Users should not use this feature to replace traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified clinician. The data provided by this device is also not intended to assist clinicians in diagnosing sleep disorders. For users over the age of 22 who have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the feature monitors for signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). ︎
4. Availability may vary by market, carrier, model or paired smartphone. Available on the Galaxy Watch4 series and later models. The Galaxy 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. ︎
5. 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, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Korea, 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, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen ︎
6. Bedtime Guidance is available on Android phone (Android 11 and above) and requires the Samsung Health app (v6.30.2 or later). Bedtime Guidance is based on three days of sleep analysis of the user’s circadian rhythm and sleep pressure. Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. The measurements are for personal reference only. Not intended for use in the detection, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder. Please consult a medical professional for advice. ︎

What’s New:

• New features¹  include Bedtime Guidance², to optimize your sleep; Vascular Load³, which measures stress on your vascular system while sleeping; Running Coach⁴, to help strategize your training; and Antioxidant Index⁵, to measure your carotenoids for healthy aging.
• The new features are part of One UI 8 Watch, which will be available on the newest Galaxy Watch series. Starting from this month, the features can be experienced through a beta program⁶ to a limited number of Galaxy Watch users.

Why it Matters: 

The goal of these new features is to help you build healthier daily habits, which can be challenging because they don’t develop instantly. It takes time to accumulate these behavior patterns, and meaningful changes are often only apparent after a long period. But the rewards are worth it.

• For example, eating unhealthy food may not immediately impact your health, but over time, it can have significant consequences.
• Conversely, adopting healthy habits may not show immediate results, but over time, they lead to positive changes in your body and mind.
• Samsung Health’s new features aim to help you develop healthy habits by motivating you through instant feedback on your health. These features inspire you to maintain your habits by providing rewards or warning signs and demonstrating immediate impact of your behaviors.

“Sleep remains a cornerstone of our approach to health, as it influences physical and mental well-being, social relationships and even work performance,” said Dr. Hon Pak, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience, Samsung Electronics. “Now, we envision our Galaxy Watch delivering holistic insights centered around sleep — insights that lead to meaningful changes in daily life. We believe this aligns with our vision of empowering you to lead healthier lives through proactive care and holistic health management.”

Explore New Health Features

Samsung Health’s new features aim to help users develop healthy habits, using instant health feedback as a motivating tool.

A single night of restful sleep offers immediate health benefits, encouraging more proactive behavior changes and leading to a healthier tomorrow. This starts with a regular and optimal bedtime.

• We constantly seek to advance our sleep-related tools, which include sleep pattern analysis, sleep coaching, and optimizing sleep environments. They also include the feature that detects signs of sleep apnea⁷— a sleep disorder — and help you take proactive steps.
• Now, we are providing additional tools for better sleep by suggesting an optimal bedtime based on your lifestyle and sleep patterns while sending reminders to help you stick to it.
• By analyzing your past three days’ sleep patterns, the feature evaluates your need for sleep pressure and your circadian rhythm to calculate a bedtime that maximizes alertness the next day.
• This feature is particularly helpful for those trying to optimize their sleep after periods of irregular bedtimes. For example, if you go to bed later than planned over several days, or have inconsistent sleep schedules between weekdays and weekends, the bedtime guidance will consider these factors to ensure you get enough sleep.

Sleep is a window into overall health, as it impacts holistic well-being. Galaxy Watch uses this opportunity to measure vascular load — the amount of stress on your vascular system while sleeping.

• The vascular system carries blood throughout the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove waste, making it a strong indicator to determine good heart health.
• During sleep, stress on your vascular system should naturally dip; however, excessive fluctuations can negatively impact cardiovascular health.
• Simply wear your Watch while sleeping, and it will measure your vascular load, providing insights into the stress on your vascular system.
• Additionally, since all health factors are interconnected, the feature also provides insights into lifestyle factors such as sleep, exercise, and stress to help you maintain a healthier lifestyle and develop positive habits.

While sleep is a precious time to cultivate and care for your health, managing your health during active moments is equally important. Running is one of the most basic and universally available fitness activities, and Samsung has long sought to support runners, offering features to help everyone stay active and achieve their fitness goals.

• Many runners face injuries due to over-pacing or are not optimally pushing themselves. Running Coach is designed to help runners safely complete marathons through optimized-intensity and injury-preventive training, making it ideal for beginners.
• Our new Running Coach feature delivers motivation and real-time guidance, creating a unique training program based on your fitness level to help you achieve your goals.
• Just wear your watch and run for 12 minutes; it will analyze your performance and running level from 1-10. You’ll receive a detailed training plan to help you complete a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or full marathon based on your level. Complete your training session, and you’ll level up and unlock your next running challenge.

When taking a holistic approach to health, we naturally focus on aging and inspiring healthy aging. However, behavioral factors, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, UV exposure, stress and lack of sleep, can accelerate aging by increasing free radicals in the body. These free radicals damage cells and accelerate aging. Antioxidants, nutrients found in many healthy foods, are molecules that neutralize these free radicals, helping prevent chronic illnesses and promote healthy aging.

• Use Galaxy Watch to measure carotenoids, which are antioxidants found in green and orange vegetables and fruits, stored in your skin.
• Galaxy Watch employs an industry-first feature to measure carotenoids in just five seconds via its advanced, light-activated BioActive sensor.
• These insights reflect behavioral changes. For example, drinking carrot juice can show changes in the index, providing motivation to adopt healthier habits.

Great health comes from the combination of many small changes — and with Galaxy Watch, it is now possible overnight.

¹Samsung Health features are intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice. Samsung account login required. Vascular Load, Running Coach and Antioxidant Index are available on Android phones (Android 10 or above) and requires the Samsung Health app (v6.30.2 or later). Vascular Load and Antioxidant Index are Labs features that you can preview before its official launch. If you don’t want to use these experimental features, you can turn them off in Samsung Health settings.
²Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, treatment of any medical condition or sleep disorder. Bedtime guidance is available on Android phone (Android 11 and above) requires Samsung Health app (v6.30.2 or later). It is based on 3 days of sleep analysis of user’s circadian rhythm and sleep pressure.
³Service only available with Galaxy Watch Ultra or later released Galaxy Watch Series. To measure vascular load, it is required to wear Galaxy Watch when sleeping for at least 3 days out of recent 14 days.
⁴Service only available with Galaxy Watch7 Series or later released Galaxy Watch Series. To use running coach program, user needs to take a running level test and get a level before starting the coach program.
⁵Service only available with Galaxy Watch Ultra or later released Galaxy Watch Series. To measure, place the center of your finger on the sensor at the back of the Watch and hold it for 5 seconds. While Anti-oxidant index can be measured using any finger, the thumb is recommended for the most accurate result. Repeat measurement due to uneven skin texture may lead to inaccurate results.
⁶Users based in South Korea and the U.S. with Galaxy Watch (Galaxy Watch5 or later released Galaxy Watch series) are eligible to join the beta program.
⁷The Sleep Apnea feature is an over-the-counter (OTC), software-only, mobile medical application operating on a compatible Samsung Galaxy Watch and Phone. This feature is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in the form of significant breathing disruptions in adult users 22 years and older, over a two-night monitoring period. It is intended for on demand use. This feature is not intended for users who have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Users should not use this feature to replace traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified clinician. The data provided by this device is also not intended to assist clinicians in diagnosing sleep disorders. Availability may vary by market, carrier, model or a paired smartphone.