When Should You Be Concerned With Apnea Duration ?

[deerslayer]

normally my ahi is from between .05 & 2.1 with apnea duration around 12 seconds-no big deal. however a few nights ago i noticed i had 10 apneas with an average duration of 24 sec. each. ...that kinda worries me in that what is that doing to my blood oxygen saturation levals ? am i needlessly concerned ? tim

[DreamStalker]

I would be concerend if an apnea duration lasted more than like 10 minutes ... but then again, maybe it wouldn't really matter anymore.

Everyone is different, maybe an oximeter rental/purchase would soothe the concern ... or at least validate any concern.

BTW - I just tried holding my breath for 24 seconds ... if I had to do that 10 times over a short period of time I'm pretty sure I would get dizzy ==> significant O2 desat.

[TerryB]

I believe you are correct to be concerned with this duration. Normal respirations are in the neighborhood of 12/min. That equated to 5 missing breathes. I can't quantify the impact any more for you, but I suggest you seek medical advice. Were there any circumstances which would have made you sleep deeper and be harder to arouse? Since you are using an auto, I suggest that the bottom pressure needs to be raised a point or two until multiple long duration apneas are eliminated. Did you show any tendency to have centrals in your titration? In that case raising pressures may be counter productive.

TerryB

[Goofproof]

I don't think the 10 to 20 sec length causes a problem, but when it adds up to over a minute or two or more I get worried. Usually it's a rare that mine does. Jim

[sleepydoll]

I would be concerend if an apnea duration lasted more than like 10 minutes ... but then again, maybe it wouldn't really matter anymore. Everyone is different, maybe an oximeter rental/purchase would soothe the concern ... or at least validate any concern.
BTW - I just tried holding my breath for 24 seconds ... if I had to do that 10 times over a short period of time I'm pretty sure I would get dizzy ==> significant O2 desat.

I totally agree with dreamStalker. Everyone is different, and if you have a gutt feeling about this, then get it staightened out with an oxymeter rental for one night!
Nothing is worst than the fact of " not knowing for sure".
Go ahead! Make your day!
Dolores

[Julie]

Could it not simply be a one time fluke leakage due to turning over in bed? If it continued to happen I'd ask a doctor about it, but one time?