Periodic Breathing

[Apnea 1]

1. What is periodic breathing?

2. How serious is it?

3. The PR System One auto bipap measures periodic breathing in percent. What does this percent mean and how high can this percent go before periodic breathing becomes a health problem?

[Moriarty]

1. What is periodic breathing?

2. How serious is it?

3. The PR System One auto bipap measures periodic breathing in percent. What does this percent mean and how high can this percent go before periodic breathing becomes a health problem?

Hi Apnea 1...

This article may help, although if you have a serious concern about any aspect of your condition authoritative medical answers need to come from an appropriate medico...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyne%E2%8...espiration

Periodic Breathing or CSR can be a symptom of Congestive Heart Failure but I have not seen any detailed figures. DocWils may have a better idea but I understand that if a person has heart failure related CSR then it is likely that there would be other symptoms.

[zonk]

Repironcis don,t tells us what % of periodic breathing considered normal but AHI below 5 considered a normal AHI

Discuss with your doctor if you have any concern, high numbers of clear airways events and periodic breathing indicate some other health problems

Respironcis definition: A persistent waning and waxing breathing pattern which repeats itself between 30 and 100 seconds. The nadir of the breathing pattern is characterized by at least a 40% reduction in airflow from an established baseline flow. The pattern must be present for several minutes before it can be identified as periodic breathing... No therapy adjustments are made in response to periodic breathing.

[Apnea 1]

Thanks to all. You have been very helpful.

[archangle]

My impression of the PRS1 PB (Periodic Breathing) would be that it means this:

"To the trained professional reading this chart: The CPAP has flagged the breathing at this part of the night as needing further investigation. Look at the airflow waveforms and decide if further action is needed."

If you have severe CSR, it can indicate an immediate life threatening problem. It will show up as PB.

You can also have a slight waxing and waning in CO2/O2 under CPAP that causes a waxing and waning pattern in your breathing pattern. This can even happen without CPAP, but it tends to be worse with CPAP. It may be harmless, or it may be significant and indicate a need to adjust your therapy.

I think most of the time, it's insignificant.