i blocked nostril

[Guest]

Using autopap and nasal mask, if one nostril blocks during sleep, will it be registered as an apnea or hypoapnea and cause an increase in pressure?

[Guest]

I always have one blocked nostril. I've done everything I can imagine to fix it, but now I just live with it.
I have seen an increase in pressure from 10 to 12, but I'm not sure if it's due to the nostril.
Most of the time, my hypos are within normal range, and sometimes really low.
They are higher on APAP than CPAP, but still pretty normal.
As long as one nostril is getting airflow, you should be fine.

[rested gal]

Using autopap and nasal mask, if one nostril blocks during sleep, will it be registered as an apnea or hypoapnea and cause an increase in pressure?

I don't think so. You're still getting plenty of air breathing through one nostril. Good air flow through one nostril is not going to look like an hypopnea to the machine.

It's normal for one nostril to get blocked or stuffy and for the stuffiness to eventually switch to the other nostril...back and forth...all day and all night. As Lee Lee said, as long as you're able to breathe through at least one nostril, all's well.

From WebMD:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/4/1680_51935.htm

Normal Nasal Blockage: The Nasal Cycle

You may notice one side of your nose feeling blocked, and sometime later feel that the other side is clogged. Many people notice this at night when lying in bed, since they have to alternate sides they sleep on to be able to breathe comfortably. This is what is termed the "nasal cycle," which is the normal cycle of congestion (swelling) and decongestion (shrinkage) in the nose. The nasal cycle causes swelling and then shrinkage of the linings of each side of the nose. The blood vessels inside the lining of the nose become engorged in a cyclic fashion, which leads to this swelling and shrinkage.

This cycle varies from person to person but normally takes one to four hours. If you hold a finger over one nostril and blow air out the other nostril, you will notice a different amount of air coming from each side. This should normally vary from side to side according to your nasal cycle. Several factors affect the nasal cycle. For example, if you lie on your side, the nostril that is on top becomes more open. Emotional excitement causes nerves inside the nose to make the lining swell. Thus, you may notice intermittent swelling in your nose and still be within the range of normal.