Setting on machine and ahis

[debst99]

My machine is set at 8, which according to posts here is a low pressure. I know it is set by sleep studies but does anyone know why some is higher than others. Do they have more obstructions in their airway than others?
Also, my doctor told me I have serious sleep apnea with 26 ahi per hour. There seems to be alot of people diagnosed with higher ahi's. My friend says she has mild apnea with 5-10 episodes. Are there any guidelines for amount of ahi's for mild, moderate, severe, etc? Thank you.

[SleepingBeauty]

If you click on the yellow lightbulb at the top, you will find a list of things to help you out. The one that shows "definitions" will be where you will find the various levels of severity of OSA (below)

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AHI/RAI** Scale =<5 events /hour = (none); 5-15 events/hour = (mild); 15-30 events/hour = (moderate); >30 events/hour = (severe).

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It is under "Getting Started Treating Sleep Apnea" link

[khallow]

There are guidlines for mild/mod servere.. I believe it's 10-20 is mild 20-30 mod and over 30 severe... not sure about that though. I think it's close.. but I had 33 an hour and my Dr says it's mild/moderate. So her opinion doesn't go with the "scale".

My machine is set on 7... I think it just depends on how your body responds to the pressure. At first I thought it was a relation to how severe your apnea is but I learned here that it is not. At too much pressure you will have central apneas so they have to figure it out for each individual.

Good luck!!
Karen

[gasparama]

My doctor said that my average of 45 AHI's per hr. is moderate to severe. The pressure is indeed determined by how much pressure a person's body needs to continue breathing. Some nasal passages are easier to force air than others.

[Goofproof]

It's a little like inflating a balloon, some balloons inflate easyier than others. The pressure has to overcome the problem. Jim

[debst99]

Thank you for all your help. The knowledge on this site is awesome.