Inadequate sleep can impact various aspects of your life, from daily activities to health and relationships. Left untreated, sleep problems may contribute to conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.

To address sleep issues, many turn to sleep apps, fitness devices, and online programs. Wearable technology, including devices worn on the body, and nearables, which monitor from your nightstand or mattress, has witnessed significant growth. These tools provide valuable insights and direction to enhance your sleep by monitoring patterns and pinpointing areas for improvement.

Moreover, these devices provide insights into the sleep habits of a larger population. For example, Fitbit’s sleep database revealed trends based on millions of nights logged in 2017. The data unveiled average bedtimes, wake times, and total hours slept. The data indicated that although Generation Z tended to go to bed later, they enjoyed longer sleep durations, surpassing Baby Boomers in the average nightly hours of sleep.

Traditionally, sleep specialists relied on standard tests in clinical settings, such as polysomnography. Yet, the emergence of consumer-facing digital tools has transformed the scenario. A growing number of individuals now utilize wearable fitness devices, such as the Apple Watch, not only for sleep tracking but also for various other functionalities.

Consumer sleep technologies are broadly categorized as “wearables” and “nearables,” although few are FDA-approved medical devices. Wearable devices typically use accelerometers to measure motion, similar to actigraphy. They excel in accurately measuring total sleep time but may encounter challenges with short naps and distinguishing between light and deep sleep. Moreover, there is a potential for overestimating sleep efficiency.

People facing sleep difficulties or irregular schedules may find value in reviewing data from these devices.

While digital tools cannot replace formal sleep testing, they provide an affordable way to actively engage in understanding and improving overall sleep health. Regard these technologies as a valuable supplement to conventional approaches, facilitating conversations with healthcare providers about your sleep.