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'80% of people with sleep apnea don't know they have it' - the signs and sleep tracker metrics to look for, according to a Samsung health scientist. By Ruth Jones published 3 hours ago A new survey published for World Sleep Day reveals the sleep apnea signs and sleep tracker metrics to keep an eye on An estimated 80% of sleep apnea cases remain undiagnosed worldwide but your sleep tracker could hold the key to a successfully spotting symptoms of the condition, a study by Samsung has found. "For years, the inconvenience of an in-lab clinical sleep study has been a barrier to diagnosing sleep apnea," explained behavioral sleep scientist Dr. Vanessa Hill to Samsung. But metrics such as sleep interruptions, total sleep time, and REM sleep could help you seek diagnosis and treatment. Article continues below Health tech company Withings is also raising awareness this Sleep Week, with the launch of the Sleep Care Solution, a team-up between your sleep tracker and telehealth. With help from Carlos Nunez, MD, Sleep Health Expert and Chief Medical Officer at Resmed, here's all you need to know. Key take-aways: at a glance. * Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impacts millions of people worldwide but because it's hard to detect, many people go undiagnosed. * According to Samsung, '80% of sleep apnea sufferers don't even know they have it.' This figure is taken from the Obstructive Sleep Apnea National Indicator Report, published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2023). * Samsung reports that roughly 23% of users surveyed are at risk of sleep apnea. * According to guidelines published by the National Institute of Health, sleep apnea symptoms include frequent loud snoring, gasping for air, and breathing that stops and starts. * Less obvious symptoms, says the Mayo Clinic, include dry mouth, daytime fatigue, headaches, insomnia, and waking at night to pee (nocturia). * Researchers behind the Samsung survey say that your sleep tracker could help you identify signs of sleep apnea - and it's not just about the snoring detection. * If your sleep tracker records reduced REM and deep sleep, as well as frequent nighttime awakenings, it might be a sign of sleep apnea. But only a qualified doctor can give a confirmed diagnosis. * Rival health tech brand Withings has today announced a sleep apnea telemedicine partnership with California-based sleep clinic Dune Health: 'An integrated clinical service aimed at improving sleep health and diagnosing/treating sleep apnea.' What is the Samsung Sleep Apnea survey? Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by disrupted breathing during the night, resulting in brief awakenings and poor sleep quality. Dr. Hill warns these awakenings can be the "difference between simply being 'in bed' and getting restorative rest." However, detecting sleep apnea is tricky. "You don't know because you're asleep while it's happening," explains Dr. Nunez. That's why the Samsung study reports that roughly 23% of participants are at risk of sleep apnea, but they might not be aware of the problem.

BeamO, the 'thermometer of the future,' is now available in the US and fda-cleared. At CES 2024, health tech company Withings introduced BeamO, which it's calling the "thermometer of the future." In addition to measuring your temperature, it has sensors for an electrocardiogram and a stethoscope to monitor your heart and lung health. As of Thursday, the device is FDA-cleared and available for purchase in the US. Using just your grip, the two electrodes on BeamO's side can perform a medically certified electrocardiogram in under a minute, displaying real-time measurements on its LED screen. This can be used only by adults age 22 and older. With a Withings Plus subscription and this feature, people in Europe and the US can utilize Cardio Check-Up, a remote cardiac health assessment conducted by a cardiologist in under 24 hours. Users can also perform an auscultation (aka listening to the sounds produced by the body's organs), capturing the chest or back's acoustic sound waves to hear the heart and lungs via headphones. During a telehealth consultation, audio streaming enables a doctor to help you determine the optimal placement of the device. This is similar to what a doctor does with a stethoscope. However, this feature isn't intended for diagnosis or treatment, but rather for recording and sharing with a doctor. Back to the basics, BeamO can also measure your body temperature through contactless analysis of the temporal artery on your temples. "These sensors record the heart's electrical activity as well as measure infrared light to interpret body temperature," Xavier Debreuil, Withings product research director, said in a news release. "On the other hand, they capture acoustic waves to study the activity of the heart and lungs. All the data is analyzed by artificial intelligence algorithms to identify anomalies." This data can be shared with your doctor through the secure HealthLink feature on the Withings app. How much does BeamO cost? BeamO is now available for $250 through the Withings website. It comes with a free one-month Withings Plus subscription and one free Cardio Check-up. In early 2026, you can also buy the device through Amazon and other select retailers. The Withings Plus subscription is currently priced at $10 per month or $100 per year. The app itself is free, but with the Plus subscription, you also get a long-term health assessment, weekly breakdown by health vertical, one ECG-powered cardiologist review every 90 days, an in-app chatbot, auto-trends detection, measurement insights and a daily vitality indicator that provides a breakdown of your body's data.

Withings U-Scan now available in the US and Europe. A smart urine testing device that sits inside your toilet bowl is now officially available to buy. Withings has rolled out its U-Scan health tracker across both the United States and Europe. This comes after months of regulatory steps and limited availability. The device was originally announced in 2023, then approved for wireless use in the US earlier this year, but commercial sales have taken a while to get going. That changes now. U-Scan is up for purchase directly from Withings in both regions, marking the start of what could become a new category in consumer health technology. What the U-Scan actually does. The product sits just inside the front rim of your toilet. Once installed, you don't need to do anything special. It identifies who is urinating using radar-based detection, initiates a chemical analysis, and sends the data to the Health Mate app via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Results are private and can be reviewed in-app, with breakdowns of hydration levels, vitamin C, pH, ketones, and more. The U-Scan system is built around a main reader unit and swappable cartridges. There are two cartridges available at launch: Nutrio and Calci. Nutrio handles general wellness metrics like hydration and nutritional markers. Calci is more focused, looking at calcium levels that may contribute to kidney stones. Each cartridge lasts roughly three months and offers 22 tests. This system was designed to be as hands-off as possible. The reader cleans itself with every flush and is made to blend in with daily bathroom routines. You don't need to remember to use it. You just go about your day and check your app when needed. Pricing and options. There are two starter bundles available depending on how much data you want. The Proactive version goes for $349.95 and includes one cartridge. The Intensive version comes with two cartridges and costs $429.95. Replacement cartridges are available at $99.95 for one or $179.95 for two, and there's an option to subscribe to regular deliveries through Withings Plus. While the core system is now available, the company is still holding back one piece of the puzzle. The long-promised Cycle Sync cartridge, which is designed for menstrual cycle and hormone tracking, has not launched yet. Withings says it still plans to bring that one to market, but hasn't shared a timeline. Quiet release, but big implications. The arrival of U-Scan in both the US and Europe doesn't come with much fanfare, but it represents a significant step forward for connected health products. Instead of relying on wearables or manual logging, this system captures data automatically, behind the scenes. That could open the door to more continuous biomarker tracking in the future, especially as the cartridge system expands. There's still room for improvement. Limited cartridge options, price point, and questions around long-term adoption could slow things down. But as it stands, U-Scan is now more than just an idea. It's on sale, shipping, and doing real-world testing from the toilet bowl up. You can check for availability in your region on the Withings website.