Flow Limitation?

With the help of this board I am beginning to understand my SleepyHead results. I'm beginning to understand Flow Rate, Pressure and Leak Rate. I am not understanding Flow Limitation. Would someone please offer an explanation of Flow Limitation? I've attached a screenshot of last night's results. In the time before the first and second machine turn offs I was wearing a Simplus FFM with a RemZzzs liner. In the last part on the night I switched to a DreamWear FFM. I think I did better with the DreamWear FFM. Please share your thoughts.
Thank you,
Mike

On page 5 of your Clinical Manual it describes Flow Limitations as the beginning of airway collapse. This is what triggers pressure increases along with snores. You can see when your pressure increased you had a little more FL. Hypopnea increases the percentage of collapse to 50% then it becomes an Obstruction at 90%. These events have to last at least 10 seconds to get scored. Here is a link with a lot of good information. www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php?title ... SleepyHead

MurrayNevada wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:52 am

With the help of this board I am beginning to understand my SleepyHead results. I'm beginning to understand Flow Rate, Pressure and Leak Rate. I am not understanding Flow Limitation. Would someone please offer an explanation of Flow Limitation? I've attached a screenshot of last night's results. In the time before the first and second machine turn offs I was wearing a Simplus FFM with a RemZzzs liner. In the last part on the night I switched to a DreamWear FFM. I think I did better with the DreamWear FFM. Please share your thoughts.
Thank you,
Mike

Flow limitations are explained in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gie2dhqP2c

the difference in flow limitations and hypopneas that some people don't understand is that hypopneas are a reduction in the *volume* of air that you're managing to get... ie, a lower tidal volume on the chart... a FL is a reduction in the flow, meaning you're not able to breathe in as easily as you should... but you may still be getting the same volume, you're just having to work harder for it...

I like to say it's like trying to breath through a thin straw, you can still take deep breaths (tidal volume) but it's harder to suck in the air.. (flow limitation).

Note in the video the characteristic flattening of the inhalation hump on the flow trace.