Your Guide to Consumer Sleep Technology
Wearables and Nearables are here to stay, so if you notice something is amiss with the data these devices are giving you, talk to someone!
LISTEN NOW: Season 1 Episode 10 – Consumer wearables: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly with Dr. Mike Yurcheshens: Friend or Foe?
A consumer wearable for sleep is a type of technology designed to be worn by individuals, typically during the night, to monitor and analyze sleep patterns. These wearables can come in various forms, such as wristbands, rings, or headbands. They use sensors to track different aspects of sleep, including:
Sleep Duration: How long the user sleeps.
Sleep Quality: This includes tracking sleep stages (light, deep, REM sleep) and the amount of time spent in each stage.
Heart Rate: Monitoring heart rate variability during sleep, which can be an indicator of overall health and sleep quality.
Oxygen Saturation of your blood
Movement: Detecting physical movement to determine sleep disruptions or restlessness.
Environmental Factors: Some devices may also monitor environmental factors like room temperature and sound levels.
These devices often connect to smartphone apps or online platforms where the data is analyzed to provide insights into the user’s sleep habits.
A sleep nearable is a type of sleep technology designed to monitor and analyze sleep patterns without needing to be worn on the body. Unlike wearables, nearables are placed in close proximity to the user during sleep. Examples of sleep nearables include bedside monitors, under-mattress pads, or even smart pillows. These devices typically use various sensors and technologies to gather data related to sleep. Key features of sleep nearables include:
Sleep Stages Tracking: They can monitor different sleep stages, such as light, deep, and REM sleep.
Breathing and Heart Rate Monitoring: Many sleep nearables use advanced sensors to measure breathing and heart rate, providing insights into sleep quality.
Movement Detection: They often include motion sensors to detect tossing and turning, which can indicate restlessness or sleep disturbances.
Environmental Monitoring: Some nearables also measure room temperature, humidity, and ambient light levels, all of which can impact sleep quality.
Sound Analysis: Certain devices may include microphones to detect snoring or other sleep-related sounds.
Sleep nearables typically connect to smartphone apps or online platforms for data analysis, offering users insights into their sleep patterns and suggestions for improvement. The key advantage of nearables over wearables is that they offer a non-intrusive way to monitor sleep, which can be preferable for those who find wearables uncomfortable or inconvenient to wear during sleep.
The Benefits of Consumer Sleep Technology
Cost-effective
Easily accessible to many
It increases awareness of sleep and can be shared with your healthcare professional.
Real-time feedback about your sleep
Data points are collected from millions of users across a variety of platforms, and that data can be analyzed using AI and machine learning to discover sleep patterns not previously elucidated.
The Potential Harm of Consumer Sleep Technology
Tech is improving but it does not replace the need to discuss your sleep concerns with a trained professional.
Tech is considered “entertainment”. These devices have not been rigorously tested to FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) standards.
Technology is advancing more rapidly than can be studied systematically.
Medical information is protected by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Essentially, these consumer devices collect medical-level information…so is it protected? I’ll let you be the judge.
Orthosomnia: When Technology Becomes Overwhelming
This term, with “ortho” meaning straight or correct and “somnia” meaning sleep, describes when patients develop a preoccupation or overconcern with improving or perfecting their wearable sleep data. This obsession can lead to an unhealthy fixation on sleep, which may conversely worsen one’s ability to fall asleep or maintain sleep.
Conclusion: Embracing Technology with Caution
As a sleep specialist, I will incorporate information from sleep technology into visits for patients who are interested. Especially as we start to work on improving sleep, either by managing a sleep disorder or as part of my protocol for tracking sleep metrics during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia. Wearables and Nearables are here to stay, so if you notice something is amiss with the data these devices are giving you, talk to someone! Make an appointment with a sleep specialist. This tech can be leveraged to your advantage if you keep in mind that too much of an obsession may do more harm than good.
