In today's world, digital innovation and healthcare are becoming inseparable. Not only that, the two make for a truly dynamic duo. A great example of this is in the way Cardiogram uses heart rate data from a standard smartwatch to pre-diagnose certain heart conditions, like sleep apnea. With our clinically-validated algorithms, we’re able to advance preventative medicine, making the world healthier one heartbeat at a time.
But what exactly is sleep apnea, and why is it so important to catch it early?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This can lead to several complications from daytime fatigue and high blood pressure to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the throat muscles collapse during sleep causing difficulty breathing. Of course, this often leads to a serious disruption in sleep, which can easily interfere with other areas of health as well if not addressed promptly. Unfortunately, sleep apnea can be difficult to catch without the proper tools. However, Cardiogram allows you to detect whether or not you’re at high risk for sleep apnea.
Catching sleep apnea early is crucial for multiple reasons. Firstly, detecting it allows you to take necessary action in sleep apnea management which can significantly improve quality of life. It does so by helping alleviate symptoms such as snoring, daytime sleepiness, and morning headaches.
Early detection of sleep apnea also decreases the risk of it rippling out and creating other serious health issues, such as hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. With early diagnosis and proper intervention, the risks associated with sleep apnea and its related conditions can be mitigated or even avoided.
Your Cardiogram app is designed to use the power of wearable technology to its fullest potential. Our app continuously monitors your heart rate data, using sophisticated algorithms that can easily detect anomalies and patterns that could suggest the presence of sleep apnea.
Here's how it works:
When you sleep, your heart rate and breathing patterns naturally change. When someone is suffering from sleep apnea, these changes are drastic as breathing is characterized by periods of significantly decreased or no airflow (apneas), followed by sudden resumptions. These episodes trigger fluctuations in heart rate, which Cardiogram can capture.
Through machine learning and data science, our app can identify these abnormal patterns, raising a flag for potential sleep apnea. Then, in the case that an abnormal pattern is detected, Cardiogram will recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider or our sleep partners, Ognomy, who offer FDA-approved sleep tests and full-diagnosis, all virtually.
The best part about using Cardiogram for early detection of sleep apnea? Its sheer convenience. The app is non-invasive, user-friendly, and offers real-time monitoring.
Suddenly, a simple smartwatch doubles down as a healthcare assistant, eliminating the need for specialized medical equipment or unnecessary sleep tests. And, unlike sleep studies which only provide snapshots of your sleep patterns, Cardiogram monitors your heart rate continuously, giving you a full picture of your sleep patterns and overall health.
You then have the insight you need to make more informed decisions about your lifestyle or treatment options. You can also observe just how affective sleep apnea treatment is overtime and determine if further adjustments are necessary.
And, of course, Cardiogram is designed with privacy and data security at its core.
By giving you with the tools to catch sleep apnea early, Cardiogram will help you take control of your health, enabling you to live your life to the fullest, with both peace of mind and heart.
