When does a single apnea become dangerous?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
pbrankin
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When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by pbrankin » Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:39 am

Hi!

On my recording from last night my AHI was excellent at 0.7

However, there was a single obstructive apnea that lasted 1 minute and 3 seconds and resulted in a 6% desaturation.

I recognise that if this occurs repeatedly then I should consider upping my min pressure (range currently 8-11).

My question is; is it common for an apnea to last as long as this? And, at what point does a single apnea represent an immediate health risk?

Many thanks.

Paul.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:07 pm

pbrankin wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:39 am
And, at what point does a single apnea represent an immediate health risk?
All life is risks. While you are reading this page, start your stopwatch and hold your breath. If you are still alive after one minute and three seconds, post again.
pbrankin wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:39 am
On my recording from last night my AHI was excellent at 0.7
Image

pbrankin
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by pbrankin » Wed Dec 22, 2021 3:07 pm

:-)

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chunkyfrog
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by chunkyfrog » Wed Dec 22, 2021 3:20 pm

It happens to everyone, eventually.
I'd rather not think about it.

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MMcG
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by MMcG » Wed Dec 22, 2021 3:45 pm

pbrankin wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:39 am
Hi!

On my recording from last night my AHI was excellent at 0.7

However, there was a single obstructive apnea that lasted 1 minute and 3 seconds and resulted in a 6% desaturation.

I recognise that if this occurs repeatedly then I should consider upping my min pressure (range currently 8-11).

My question is; is it common for an apnea to last as long as this? And, at what point does a single apnea represent an immediate health risk?

Many thanks.

Paul.
If it's any consolation, during my sleep study, I beat your record (1 min 12 seconds) and my Oxygen saturation fell to 63%!

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palerider
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by palerider » Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:13 pm

pbrankin wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:39 am
And, at what point does a single apnea represent an immediate health risk?
If you don't start breathing again, it's a bad sign.
If you did, then it's not "an immediate health risk".

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zonker
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by zonker » Wed Dec 22, 2021 6:13 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:07 pm
pbrankin wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:39 am
And, at what point does a single apnea represent an immediate health risk?
All life is risks. While you are reading this page, start your stopwatch and hold your breath. If you are still alive after one minute and three seconds, post again.
pbrankin wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:39 am
On my recording from last night my AHI was excellent at 0.7
Image
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Miss Emerita
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by Miss Emerita » Wed Dec 22, 2021 7:05 pm

pbrankin wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:39 am
My question is; is it common for an apnea to last as long as this? And, at what point does a single apnea represent an immediate health risk?
Paul, it’s fairly long as events go, but nothing to worry about in terms of short-term or long-term health. You’re doing enviably well.

Just keep an eye on things, as you plan to do, in case you start getting a bunch of events.
Oscar software is available at https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/

lars_the_bear
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by lars_the_bear » Thu Dec 23, 2021 12:03 pm

Back in the day, when I was involved in medical education, we used to demonstrate what would happen if we quietly replaced a student's air with nitrogen. Usually the student would manage about a minute before peacefully falling off his or her seat. This was considered a perfectly safe thing to do in those days, and no student suffered any ill effects apart from embarrassment. In those days, I could easily hold my breath for a minute or more when swimming underwater, and never gave a moments' thought to whether it was healthy or not.

Depriving a healthy person of oxygen for a minute doesn't seem to do any harm. Still, it's not exactly normal, is it? If it were me, I think I'd be keen to know why it was happening, if it were a regular thing.

Best wishes
Lars.
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D.H.
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by D.H. » Thu Dec 23, 2021 1:53 pm

I would call either your primary care physician or the doctor who prescribed CPAP.

Since I believe you're in the UK (based on the way you spelled something), I'm not sure what the procedure is for the NHS. However, I believe that they do prioritize (my spelling) anything that they think will be life-threatening.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Dec 23, 2021 4:51 pm

D.H. wrote:
Thu Dec 23, 2021 1:53 pm
I would call either your primary care physician or the doctor who prescribed CPAP.
Doc: Hello

Bear: I had one apnea last night.

Doc: Click

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palerider
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Re: When does a single apnea become dangerous?

Post by palerider » Fri Dec 24, 2021 1:14 am

D.H. wrote:
Thu Dec 23, 2021 1:53 pm
I would call either your primary care physician or the doctor who prescribed CPAP.
And that's why nobody takes you seriously.

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