Pulse change events - Oscar

[newtothis123]

New user here…

I have a Wellue Ring that I’m using to check for desaturations and to track heart rate.

My pulse change events in Oscar show upwards of 600 per night. That seems like an excessive amount.

My average heart rate is around 60, with occasional spikes to up to 100~ that seem to correlate with movement.

My O2 drops 12~ per night and never below 90. Sometimes the desaturations correlate with a heart rate spike. But a lot of the time they don’t.

My main question is about the pulse change events. Is there reason to worry about so many if the change is relatively small? 5~ bpm?

Thanks!

[Jay51]

Welcome to Anpeaboard.  

Do you mind attaching the SPO2 data (and even an OSCAR chart).  You will get better analysis if we can see them.

As a new member you cannot post either a link or an inline image. You must use this forums attachment feature.

https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.ph...pnea_Board

[stevew77]

My SpO2 with the Wellue ring drops for a few seconds, usually no lower than 92. My heartrate rarely drops below 40 when sleeping. 60 is normal when sleeping, and 100 when awake or dreaming, is not unusual. Here's a OSCAR screenshot from last night for context.

[Jay51]

Thank you very much for posting that.  Your SPO2 doesn't look too abnormal IMO.   Normal is around a 95 or 96 average for the night.  I drop to 90 or so should be watched.  Drops below 90 show concern.  You only spike once around 90; everything else is above 90 all night long.  Not bad.  

Heart rate looks ok to me also.  Some ups and downs, but not too terribly high or low.   Not bad IMO. 

Your pressure up and down all over the place, that that is the way the ASV works usually with its algorithm.  Not to worry.  

5 AHI with an ASV auto.  My only thought would be to try lowering your pillow height, possibly changing sleeping position (to see if it lowers your AHI), or as a last resort, getting a soft cervical collar.  When clusters of H's occur (Or O's) that usually means a positional element.  Your airway could be getting kinked.   Chin tucking can cause this.  Also severe bending of your airway.  

It would be nice to get your AHI down a bit.  There are a few things to try.  Anyone else see anything here that could help, please post.

[newtothis123]

Got it. Here’s my full chart. Seems like all my drops are clustered and correlated with heart rate and movement. 1.8/hr with 3% change for 8 or more seconds as the threshold. Heart rate is really jittery.

Thanks again

[Jay51]

Thank you for posting that.  I see something important here.  Your heart rate looks ok except for some spikes upward.  The spikes upward correspond many times to movement spikes also.  Have you ever heard of PLM?  You can research it online.  You may not have PLM's, but most of your heart rate spikes seem to line up with movement spikes (like you said).  Or maybe you are getting into some position that is kinking your airway (or even chin tucking).  Try lowering your pillow height if you can; possibly try side sleeping more than back sleeping; and even try a soft cervical collar if a lot of clusters of events keep occurring on your OSCAR charts.