Apple Watch SpO2 during sleep.

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Sun May 29, 2022 7:22 pm

Architect wrote: ↑
Sun May 29, 2022 3:12 pm
Apple watch saved my brothers life, I don't remember all the technicalities he shared, he felt fine but his resting heart rate was 120, abnormal sinus rhytem. He's very stubborn, believed watch was malfunctioning, cause he felt fine. Family finally convinced him to visit ER, he finally went late that evening, diagnosed AFib.

My Fitbit charge 5 rarely detects sp02, so I purchased a finger oximeter, which works 50%

There are a lot of stories out there like that.

My daughter found out today she has Covid--she has mild-moderate cold symptoms. Her Apple Watch kept bugging her last Friday because her heart rate was going over 120 at rest

--she probably had a fever, she is blowing it off, but at least she's not having high heart rate now. She's in good spirits, feels better than last Friday.

So last night I had a full battery on my AW and used the recording pulse oximeter. The AW only took 3 Blood Oxygen readings in the early part of my sleep cycle--I don't know why it stopped after that. But those 3 readings about 30 minutes apart averaged 94.8% Sp02. The recording pulse oximeter took readings continuously during the night which averaged out to 94%, and from the looks of the graph stayed between 93% and 94% pretty much all night (good news!).

So while the AW had almost the same reading, it doesn't increase my confidence in the accuracy of the AW, because the readings seem too random. It could too easily miss apnic events, or underscore normal breathing.

I still want to try both a few more nights, but I don't think the AW is a reliable indicator of blood oxygen during the night, particularly for those of us who have diagnosed apnea.

Architect · Post by **Architect** » Mon May 30, 2022 10:20 am

Hi Friend, sorry to read your daughter experience Covid, hope she's recovering well, wish her best to full recovery.

3 weeks ago, I had difficulty breathing, chest felt super tight, fatigue, muscle aches, reason I purchased a Fitbit. My heart rate was 110, was convinced I had Covid, went to ER, negative covid/flu, diagnosed lung infection/dehydration, my wbc 22K

my Sp02 was 94%, infection cleared up, thank goodness.

All digital technology has pros/cons. trick is individual find what's most comfortable for them. I discovered Fitbit is outstanding in tracking heart rate, as for Sp02, I prefer hosptial/fire station equipment, to check my vitals.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Mon May 30, 2022 11:24 am

I finally read this news release about the Cleveland Clinic study - https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/20 ... detection/

Note that they found,

Watch display only picked up 41% of AFib occurrences in hospitalized patients, additional waveform PDF detected 98% of occurrences.

41% is not good for the casual user.

They need to be using the ECG app. All should be aware of the symptoms of AFIB -

Some people with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) don't notice any symptoms. Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may have signs and symptoms such as:

Sensations of a fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Reduced ability to exercise
Shortness of breath
Weakness
Atrial fibrillation may be:

Occasional (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). A-fib symptoms come and go, usually lasting for a few minutes to hours. Sometimes symptoms occur for as long as a week and episodes can happen repeatedly. Symptoms might go away on their own. Some people with occasional A-fib need treatment.
Persistent. With this type of atrial fibrillation, the heart rhythm doesn't go back to normal on its own. If a person has A-fib symptoms, cardioversion or treatment with medications may be used to restore and maintain a normal heart rhythm.
Long-standing persistent. This type of atrial fibrillation is continuous and lasts longer than 12 months.
Permanent. In this type of atrial fibrillation, the irregular heart rhythm can't be restored. Medications are needed to control the heart rate and to prevent blood clots.
When to see a doctor
If you have any signs or symptoms of atrial fibrillation, make an appointment with your doctor.

If you have chest pain, seek immediate medical help. Chest pain could mean that you're having a heart attack.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20350624

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Mon May 30, 2022 8:05 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Mon May 30, 2022 11:24 am
I finally read this news release about the Cleveland Clinic study - https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/20 ... detection/

Note that they found,

Watch display only picked up 41% of AFib occurrences in hospitalized patients, additional waveform PDF detected 98% of occurrences.
41% is not good for the casual user. They need to be using the ECG app. All should be aware of the symptoms of AFIB -

Some people with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) don't notice any symptoms. Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may have signs and symptoms such as:

Sensations of a fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Reduced ability to exercise
Shortness of breath
Weakness
Atrial fibrillation may be:

Occasional (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). A-fib symptoms come and go, usually lasting for a few minutes to hours. Sometimes symptoms occur for as long as a week and episodes can happen repeatedly. Symptoms might go away on their own. Some people with occasional A-fib need treatment.
Persistent. With this type of atrial fibrillation, the heart rhythm doesn't go back to normal on its own. If a person has A-fib symptoms, cardioversion or treatment with medications may be used to restore and maintain a normal heart rhythm.
Long-standing persistent. This type of atrial fibrillation is continuous and lasts longer than 12 months.
Permanent. In this type of atrial fibrillation, the irregular heart rhythm can't be restored. Medications are needed to control the heart rate and to prevent blood clots.
When to see a doctor
If you have any signs or symptoms of atrial fibrillation, make an appointment with your doctor.

If you have chest pain, seek immediate medical help. Chest pain could mean that you're having a heart attack.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20350624

Yes, now that I'm learning more I can see why. The readings are very intermittent vs a hospital monitor that is continuous. And the deliberate readings fail a good part of the time (poor positioning, watch not tight enough or too tight). But certainly if it's indicating A-fib, it bears paying attention to. On a FB group for Apple Watches, a guy with a pacemaker and history of A-fib said his watch is picking up declerations, which should not be happening with a pacemaker. He showed his cardiologist the graph, and the cardiologist ignored him. I would at least want my cardiologist to run some tests to rule it out. He's going to change cardiologists to find one who at least listens to his concerns. My attitude is ruling it out is fine, ignoring it is not.

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Wed Jun 01, 2022 8:54 am

Overnight finger Pulse Oximeter solution. EMAY EMO-80 (as per jn...Lazarus)

: 841B0B16-676C-4004-B3A9-ECE3C4E5943A.jpeg (171.17 KiB) Viewed 995 times

JPB

Just thought of it this morning. Have not tried it yet. Feels like it might work.

Tried the tape. Worked, but somewhat difficult to tape and untape.

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:09 pm

Wow!

I decided to just try sleeping with it on, no taping, and guess what? It stayed on and worked fine.

Another morning I woke up and it was off--because I fell asleep and forgot to put it on as intended that night.

I'm not trying to do this nightly. Just a few random nights to see what's what.

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:39 pm

Janknitz wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:09 pm
Wow!

Absolutely worth a laugh.

But it worked!!! Stayed on all night. Much more comfortable than tape. You can cup your hand (all fingers). Just pull it on before bed and pull it off the morning.

I used cotton/polyester glove (the kind used for handling jewelry or crystal). I cut off all fingers plus thumb, except the one for the monitor. I have fairly big hands with long fingers.

It takes a little wrangling to get the monitor crammed into the finger, but it will squeeze in and out.

And it will be reusable.

JPB

Oh, and my SpO2 is excellent (according to Emay). Pulse rate all over the place. Not too high or too low though. I have afib also.

lazarus · Post by **lazarus** » Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:10 pm

On behalf of the entire forum, I would just like to say thank you for having fully extended all five fingers for that photo, jimbud.

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:50 pm

lazarus wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:10 pm
On behalf of the entire forum, I would just like to say thank you for having fully extended all five fingers for that photo, jimbud.

And there will always be one for you.

JPB

SleepGeek · Post by **SleepGeek** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 3:10 pm

jimbud wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:39 pm
I cut off all fingers plus thumb, except the one for the monitor.

Is there a reason to cut the finger tips off? Or what is the reason?

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 3:15 pm

jimbud wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:39 pm
I cut off all fingers plus thumb, except the one for the monitor. I have fairly big hands with long fingers.

Only reason. For me.

JPB

Iamstumped · Post by **Iamstumped** » Wed Jul 13, 2022 1:08 pm

I've got a question.
I have the Apple Watch 7.
Can I use it to upload O2 data to Oscar?
And how do I get it to upload O2 data to Oscar?

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Wed Jul 13, 2022 1:56 pm

Iamstumped wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 13, 2022 1:08 pm
I've got a question.
I have the Apple Watch 7.
Can I use it to upload O2 data to Oscar?
And how do I get it to upload O2 data to Oscar?

Apple watches only measure blood-oxygen levels intermittently. Apple says "occasionally". Last night, my watch only made 11 measurements.

I don't see any value in this being uploaded to OSCAR. It's easy enough to view in the watch app.

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:08 pm

Last night, my watch only made 11 measurements.

That's a lot! Most nights my AW only measures it about 4 -6 times.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:48 am

Janknitz wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:08 pm

Last night, my watch only made 11 measurements.
That's a lot! Most nights my AW only measures it about 4 -6 times.

My measurement count varies a lot. Last night it was 4 measurements. I wonder if the variation has something to do with how restful sleep is?

Apple Watch SpO2 during sleep.

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