Do apenas occur in everyone's sleep to somedgree?

[aconcepts]

Hi all - I am wondering if all human have some degree of apneas when sleeping. If so what is a normal amount of apneas?

Thanks - AC

[SewTired]

The occasional apnea is a big nothing. Currently, according to the sleep sites, there is no real benefit to treat apnea with an AHI below 3 in the absence of other issues. I don't remember what the RDI limit was.

Note: while snoring can be an indication of apnea, it doesn't mean that you definitely have it. My late BIL snored, but never stopped breathing.

[djams]

I don't remember what the RDI limit was.

What's RDI? Still learning here.

[Neicy]

The respiratory disturbance index (RDI) — or respiratory distress Index — is a formula used in reporting polysomnography (sleep study) findings. Like the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), it reports on respiratory events during sleep, but unlike the AHI, it also includes respiratory-effort related arousals (RERAs).

[Goofproof]

The human body is made up of a hodgepodge if parts that don't play well with each other all the time, controlled by a brain that sometimes gets it's needed signals crossed. Unlike a well built machine, our processes are hit and miss, it gets messy.

AHI of 5 is considered normal, but what really matters is the length of events and dropping O2 stats. Jim

There is no real normal, we do the best we can, and keep on plugging along!

[chunkyfrog]

"There is no real normal", as proven every day on this forum--and the internet in general.

[Lucyhere]

"There is no real normal", as proven every day on this forum--and the internet in general.

And, the world. Anyway, what is, "normal"?

[D.H.]

They won't diagnose sleep apnea with an AHI under 5 at this time. In the future, it's possible that that number will be lower, events will be counted differently, or other factors will be brought to bear.

[Rob K]

I read a study somewhere that said most people stop breathing in their sleep. The frequency of events are different for everyone. Medical and insurance consider below 5ahi to be normal. For some of us, like myself, that number is obviously too high. I feel like I have a hangover when I get up in the 2-3ahi range.

[palerider]

Hi all - I am wondering if all human have some degree of apneas when sleeping. If so what is a normal amount of apneas?

Thanks - AC

If your throat isn't too narrow, there's no reason to have an obstructive apnea.

A few centrals? sure.

[Goofproof]

They won't diagnose sleep apnea with an AHI under 5 at this time. In the future, it's possible that that number will be lower, events will be counted differently, or other factors will be brought to bear.

Or higher! Cover your Guesses.... Jim

[D.H.]

They won't diagnose sleep apnea with an AHI under 5 at this time. In the future, it's possible that that number will be lower, events will be counted differently, or other factors will be brought to bear.

Or higher! Cover your Guesses.... Jim

I doubt that! The almost universal trend in medicine is to lower thresholds so more people are positive or borderline (ex blood pressure, blood sugar). However, it's possible that they'll measure differently and some people who who score above five using current methodology will be negative. Note that measuring differently could possibly include things that they don't know should be measured or don't know how to measure at this time.

[aconcepts]

Thanks for all the great answers.

I feel a hangover when my RDI is above 2!

The reply that interested me most was about oxygen levels.

I live at 4650 elevation. There is less oxygen at this height.

How do I know what my night time O2 levels are and what is considered "normal" (there is that word again)?

[SewTired]

The only way to know what your nighttime oxygen is would be to use an oximeter. I can tell you already, that I feel tired with average oxygen of 91%, but that is sadly considered normal. Something like 95% or greater is the ideal. I can tell the difference as occasionally I will have an average of 95% and I feel great all day.

[jnk...]

No human has perfect breathing at night. So the only truly pertinent questions are (1) will PAP therapy help a particular person's sleep and (2) if so, what pressure(s) and settings will allow for the best sleep possible?