Android Watches: Tracking Sleep Or Lack Thereof

Smartwatches have become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people using them to track their sleep. Sleep tracking is an optional function on smartwatches that can be turned on to monitor sleep patterns and detect sleep stages. While some people find it uncomfortable to wear a watch while sleeping, others have incorporated it into their daily lives. Smartwatches can track sleep through motion detection, and some can even monitor vitals such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen saturation. This data can provide insights into a person's sleep quality and overall health, helping them make informed decisions about their sleep habits. However, it is important to note that the accuracy of sleep tracking data may vary, and it should not be solely relied upon for medical diagnosis.

Samsung Galaxy Watch sleep tracking features

The Samsung Galaxy Watch series offers a range of sleep tracking features to help you understand your sleep patterns and improve your sleep quality. The sleep tracking functionality is reliable, user-friendly, and, most importantly, free.

To use the sleep tracking feature, you must first enable it in the Samsung Health app. Then, wear your watch to bed, and it will automatically detect and analyse your sleep patterns. The watch can track various sleep metrics, including your sleep time, sleep stages (Awake, REM, Light, and Deep sleep cycles), blood oxygen levels, skin temperature, snoring, and sleep consistency. This data is then synced with the Samsung Health app on your phone, where you can view detailed sleep reports and access sleep coaching options.

The Galaxy Watch also includes FDA-approved sleep apnea detection, available on the Galaxy Watch 4 and newer models. This feature alerts users to potential signs of breathing disorders during sleep, providing valuable insights into sleep-related health issues. Additionally, the watch offers a four-week sleep coaching program with daily missions, such as watching educational videos about sleep, to help you establish a healthier sleep pattern.

To ensure accurate sleep tracking, Samsung recommends wearing the watch correctly. The watch should be positioned approximately two finger widths above the ulna, the pointy bone on your wrist. It is also suggested to utilise the "Bedtime mode," which disables distractions and notifications during your designated sleep time.

Sleep tracking in smartwatches

Sleep tracking is an optional function of smartwatches. It is safe to wear a smartwatch all the time, but it is recommended to take it off for a few hours to let your skin breathe and prevent bacteria from collecting on your skin. If you want to understand your sleep pattern and track your sleep, it is recommended that you wear your smartwatch to bed.

Smartwatches are equipped with heart rate monitors, BP monitors, SpO2 trackers, multiple activity trackers, stress trackers, and sleep trackers. The sleep tracking feature of a smartwatch uses various sensors to track the different stages of sleep. While some people are used to wearing their smartwatches to bed, others find it uncomfortable. The light behind the watch or the strap can sometimes lead to a disturbed sleep cycle. Some people are also concerned about the radiation emitted by smartwatches. To avoid this, you can wear your smartwatch only for specific purposes, such as tracking your sleep patterns.

Apple Watches can track sleep when the "Sleep Focus" mode is enabled and a sleep schedule is set up. The watch will then monitor your vitals and detect sleep stages. You can also set up charging reminders to ensure your watch is charged before your Wind Down time. If your watch battery dies, it won't track your sleep data. Additionally, if your watch is too loose, the accelerometer might register too much movement during your natural sleep.

Samsung Galaxy Watches also offer reliable, easy-to-use, and free sleep tracking. They can track blood oxygen saturation during sleep and provide insights into fitness and wellness. The watches also monitor snoring spells through built-in microphones and tethered smartphones to record audio snippets. The Galaxy Watch sleep tracking features include sleep coaching, providing personalized key habits coaching directly from the user's wrist.

Sleep tracking on Apple Watch

Sleep tracking is a common feature of smartwatches, including the Apple Watch. It is safe to wear a smartwatch while sleeping, but it is recommended to take it off for a few hours to let your skin breathe and prevent bacteria from collecting. Some people also find the light or strap of a smartwatch uncomfortable and disruptive to their sleep.

To track sleep using an Apple Watch, the device must be charged to at least 30% and the Sleep Tracking setting must be enabled. The watch will then measure and record the number of times the wearer breathes in a minute, as well as tracking their sleep duration and quality. This data can be viewed in the Health app on a connected iPhone or iPad. It is also possible to set sleep goals and create a customised sleep schedule using the Health app.

To get the most accurate results when tracking sleep with an Apple Watch, it is recommended to turn on Charging Reminders and Sleep Focus. Charging Reminders will notify the wearer to charge their watch before their Wind Down time and when it is fully charged. Sleep Focus limits distractions before bedtime by simplifying the Lock Screen on the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Third-party apps such as Sleepwatch, AutoSleep, and Sleep Cycle are also available for sleep tracking on the Apple Watch.

Sleep tracking on other devices

Sleep tracking is not limited to Android watches and is available on other devices such as the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Fitbit, Jawbone UP, and the FDA-approved Actiwatch. These devices use an accelerometer to sense motion, which is used to detect sleep. If you are not wearing the device, it may not be able to track your sleep.

Apple Watch

To track your sleep on the Apple Watch, you need to enable the "Sleep" feature and set up a sleep schedule. This allows the watch to monitor your vitals and detect sleep stages. You can also enable Sleep Focus, which limits distractions before bedtime and protects your sleep. The watch can track your sleep duration, heart rate, respiratory rate, and nightly wrist temperature.

Samsung Galaxy Watch

The Samsung Galaxy Watch offers reliable and free sleep tracking. It can track blood oxygen saturation during sleep and provide insights into fitness and wellness. The watch also monitors snoring spells by using built-in microphones and a tethered smartphone to record audio snippets.

Smartwatches

Smartwatches are equipped with various health sensors and trackers, including heart rate, BP, SpO2, activity, stress, and sleep trackers. They can help you understand your sleep patterns and make changes to improve your sleep. However, some people may find the constant notifications and vibrations disturbing while sleeping. Additionally, there are concerns about the radiation emitted by smartwatches and potential health effects.

Other Devices

Other wearable devices and apps can also be used for sleep tracking, such as the Fitbit and Jawbone UP. These devices may provide insights into your sleep patterns and help you optimize your sleep. However, it's important to note that no device, except for EEG leads placed on your head in a sleep lab, can accurately track light and deep sleep stages.

The pros and cons of sleep tracking

Sleep tracking has become increasingly popular since the mid-2010s, with the market for sleep tech devices projected to be worth over $40 billion by 2027. Sleep trackers can be worn on the wrist, clipped onto a pillow, or placed on a bedside table. They monitor aspects such as movement, noise, heart rate, and, in some cases, breathing patterns and blood oxygen levels.

Pros of Sleep Tracking

Sleep trackers can help you to:

• Gain insight into your sleep routine and patterns: You can find out when you went to sleep, how long you slept, and whether your sleep was interrupted.
• Set and achieve personal sleep goals: By tracking your sleep, you can determine whether you are reaching your sleep goals and make adjustments as needed.
• Improve your bedtime routine: Sleep tracking can make you more conscious of your sleep and wake times, helping you to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
• Detect potential sleep disorders: Devices that measure blood oxygen levels can indicate the possibility of sleep apnea, although a medical sleep study is required for an official diagnosis.
• Wake up more easily: Some trackers have alarms that go off during periods of lighter sleep, which may make it easier for you to wake up.

Cons of Sleep Tracking

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to sleep tracking:

• Preoccupation with sleep data: Some people who use sleep trackers become overly focused on optimising their sleep data, which can lead to orthosomnia and increased nighttime anxiety.
• Inaccurate sleep quality estimates: While trackers can provide insights into your sleep patterns, the methods used to estimate sleep quality may not always be reliable.
• Sleep disturbances: The notifications and lights on smartwatches can create disturbances while sleeping, although this can be mitigated by turning on "Do Not Disturb" mode or disconnecting the watch from your smartphone.
• Radiation concerns: Some people have concerns about the radiation emitted by smartwatches and its potential impact on health, although there is no direct correlation between headaches and smartwatch radiation.
• Skin irritation: It is recommended to take your smartwatch off for a few hours each day to let your skin breathe and prevent bacteria from collecting underneath.

Frequently asked questions