The FDA has approved an Apple Watch app called ‘NightWare,’ which could help treat users’ PTSD-related nightmares.
NightWare essentially sensors body movement and heart rate during sleep. This data is sent to the NightWare server and creates a unique sleep pattern for the users.
When the app detects that a user is experiencing a nightmare based on its analysis of heart rate and body movement, the system will vibrate the wearable in response to interrupt bad dreams, but not actually wake you.
It’s important to note that NightWare is only available by prescriptions, and isn’t a standalone treatment and is to be used in conjunction with medications. Users who are known to “act out” during sleep are not recommended to use the Apple Watch therapy.
There is obviously no guarantee that NightWare will work, but the FDA has stated that a study showed that the app did lead to better sleep quality.
Regardless, it’s still interesting to see how the Apple Watch can not only be used to track sleep, but also shape the quality of your sleep.
