Sleep Disorders Sleep Apnea Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Oxygen Desaturation Effects By Brandon Peters, MD facebook twitter Brandon Peters, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist. Learn about our editorial process Brandon Peters, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO on May 08, 2020 linkedin Rochelle Collins, DO, is a board-certified family medicine doctor currently practicing in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Review Board Rochelle Collins, DO on May 08, 2020 Print Patients who develop sleep disturbances often seek the aid of a physician who commonly refers them for sleep studies. Sleep studies can yield important diagnostic information about a person's sleep cycles, oxygen levels, and the quantity and length of breathing interruptions. Photomick / Getty Images What is the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and lower oxygen levels during sleep? How does sleep apnea lead to oxygen desaturations that may affect overall health? What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? One of the most common sleep disorders diagnosed in people with difficulty sleeping is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The condition affects millions of Americans and can be serious. Information gathered during a sleep study can guide a physician in making the diagnosis. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when there is a blockage of airflow through the throat during sleep when a person's upper airway collapses during sleep. When this happens, breathing stops for as little as 10 seconds and even up to a minute or longer. People with sleep apnea experience frequent, repeated episodes during a single night, sometimes hundreds. And while the person may sleep right through the episodes completely unaware of them, often a partner will notice and become alarmed. During periods of apnea, people received less air, which results in decreased oxygen delivery to the body. The oxygen levels in the blood may fall repeatedly. This oxygen decrease is called an oxygen desaturation. It often drops by 3% or 4% (and sometimes much more) in association with sleep apnea events. Oxygen levels are considered abnormal when they drop below 88%. These might be deemed to be severely abnormal when the levels drop below 80%. When the oxygen levels are low for more than five minutes during the night, this is a condition called hypoxemia. An Overview of Sleep Apnea Signs and Symptoms Due to disrupted breathing in sleep, sleep apnea can cause people to feel drowsier the next day. In addition, without treatment, sleep apnea can result in any of the following signs and symptoms: High blood pressureLoud snoringCardiovascular diseaseWeight gainMemory problemsImpotencyHeadachesDepressionIrritabilityDry mouth upon awakeningSnorting, gasping, choking during sleepInsomnia Risk Factors People of any age, gender, or weight can develop obstructive sleep apnea, but the disorder is more common among those who are: ObeseMiddle-aged (between 40 and 60 years old) or olderMaleNeck circumference of 17 inches or greater in a man; neck circumference of 16 inches or greater in a womanEnlarged tonsils and/or adenoidsSmokersUsers of alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers Treatment There are various lifestyle modifications that are often very successful in curing sleep apnea for some people. These include: Losing weight: Modest weight loss can help provide relief of apnea, and greater weight loss can even cure the disorder if this is the primary cause of the condition.Changing sleep position: Sleeping on the side or stomach may improve sleep apnea because back sleeping allows the tongue and soft palate to shift back into the throat, blocking the airway.Avoiding alcohol, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills: These can relax the muscles in the back of the throat causing it to collapse during sleep.Keeping nasal passages clear: Using a saline nasal spray or a neti pot (a small pot used to pour water into the nostrils) can clear nasal passages, allowing increased airflow. When lifestyle treatments fail, or for patients with more dramatic oxygen desaturation changes, a treatment known as continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy can be very effective. CPAP machines blow air into the nose and/or mouth, creating a gentle pressure of air that pushes the throat open. This prevents it from collapsing during sleep and averts apnea. CPAP Therapy for Sleep Apnea Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tossing and turning night over night can have a big impact on your quality of life. Our free guide can help you get the rest you need. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Slowik JM, Collen JF. Obstructive sleep apnea. In: StatPearls. Updated March 11, 2019. Ho ML, Brass SD. Obstructive sleep apnea. Neurol Int. 2011;3(3):e15. doi:10.4081/ni.2011.e15 Cleveland Clinic. Sleep apnea. Updated March 3, 2020. Cleveland Clinic. Sleep apnea: management and treatment. Updated March 3, 2020. Additional Reading Kryger MH, et al. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. 6th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016.