A 39-year-old member asked:
In a person with sleep apnea, what causes the rises and falls in oxygen saturation of arterial blood during sleep?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Patrick Melderanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 29 years experience
Lack of oxygen: When you stop breathing (apnea) oxygen and carbon dioxide do not exchange in the lungs. Oxygen drops (hypoxia) and co2 increase (hypercapnia)... Classic response in a patient with apnea.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge commented
Internal Medicine 43 years experience
The anatomy of patients with obstructive sleep apnea allows the tongue to partially block the airway during deep sleep, leading to snoring, and intermittent inability to breathe (this usually causes brief awakening when the body responds to falling oxygen and rising CO2 levels).
Jul 13, 2012
Dr. Michael Sternanswered
Facial Pain/Migraine, Dentofacial Cosmetics and Dermal Fillers, General Dentistry, Snoring/Sleep Apnea, Oral DNA Testing/nonsurgical gum disease treatment 51 years experience
No breaths=no oxygen: This is caused by the temporary stoppage/blocking of breathing which is found in sleep apnea. Longer stoppage/blocking of breathing means less oxygen in the blood.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Mark Birnbachanswered
Cosmetic Dentistry 50 years experience
Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is defined as stopping breathing for 10 seconds. During that time, the body is not getting any oxygen. In addition , there can be instances that last less than 10 seconds, or where a less than adequate effort to breath is attempted. These also reduce the oxygen intake.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 29, 2016
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