Wearing a pulse oximeter during sleep - quick test for SE?

[cchild2]

I bought a pulse oximeter (CMS 50D+) to measure my O2 throughout the night from time to time.

I let my mom use it throughout the night since she gets poor sleep. However, she had a very consistent high 90's level the entire night! Is it safe to assume she doesn't have SE or can you have it while still having great oxygenation throughout the night?

FYI, I have found putting a sock over may hand/arm is great at keeping the oximeter on the entire night.

[jnk...]

I bought a pulse oximeter (CMS 50D+) to measure my O2 throughout the night from time to time.

I let my mom use it throughout the night since she gets poor sleep. However, she had a very consistent high 90's level the entire night! Is it safe to assume she doesn't have SE or can you have it while still having great oxygenation throughout the night?

FYI, I have found putting a sock over may hand/arm is great at keeping the oximeter on the entire night.

Tracking O2 can prove someone has an issue during sleep, but it cannot prove that someone is sleeping well.

[Goofproof]

It's just a tool, not a defining tool, but it can show up problems, just not peg it down to sleep apnea. Jim

[chunkyfrog]

There are home sleep study tests, but nothing can completely replace the in-lab sleep study.
I gather that price IS an object.

[jnk...]

Sleep labs use a very sensitive oximeter that is tuned for accurately recording the transient desats that can accompany some sleep disturbances.

However, a home pulse-ox, although possibly useful for seeing the sustained low O2 of some forms of severe OSA, cannot detect accurately that someone may still have a very serious sleep-breathing problem that is destroying his or her sleep but that isn't affecting the readout on a home pulse-ox.

A change in breathing does not have to have an effect on sustained O2 in order to have a serious effect on the brain activity and rhythms necessary for good sleep.