O2 saturation and pressure, are they dependent variables?

O2 saturation and pressure, are they dependent variables?
I did some checks with the pulse oximeter and I verified that when I sleep on my left side, my SpO2 drops to about 92% and the average pressure is greater than 16 cmH2O.
If I sleep on the right side, the SpO2 stabilizes at about 96% and the pressure is about 14.5 cmH2O.
What do you think?
Does this have an explanation?
Thank you all.

Oltremare

Interesting question and interesting findings. Just off the top of my head I'd say that O2 saturation is dependent on your incidence of apnea events and for some reason you have more lying on one side than the other. The pressure variable is dependent on your machine's efforts to keep your breathing passage open.

Because your cardiac output changes depending on what side you sleep on, I imagine 02 will vary on testing as well.

Thanks Josiah.
The lowering of the SpO2 when I'm on the left side, doesn't depend on the apneas.
As soon as I lie down on the left side, the SpO2 immediately drops to 92%.
This happens in a few seconds and I'm still awake.

Thanks Julie,
I really like your answer.
I was thinking of some different chest compression.

Oltremare wrote:As soon as I lie down on the left side, the SpO2 immediately drops to 92%.

Your mask is digging into your wife's backside. Sleep on your right side, or make her move to the other side of the bed.

Oltremare wrote:O2 saturation and pressure, are they dependent variables?
I did some checks with the pulse oximeter and I verified that when I sleep on my left side, my SpO2 drops to about 92% and the average pressure is greater than 16 cmH2O.
If I sleep on the right side, the SpO2 stabilizes at about 96% and the pressure is about 14.5 cmH2O.
What do you think?
Does this have an explanation?
Thank you all.

Oltremare

Your heart is in a different position, Gerd, lung function may be better in one position, moving changes everything, as you sleep everything changes, you are normal. Jim