Tanking at night.
I'll respond because I wear a watch at night. I'm not trained.
How does the oxygen tank at night? Your airways get obstructed (from position or something like that). So, then, asleep, you often don't react immediately. Eventually you wake up even out of a deep sleep if it goes on. This obstruction event can recur several times in the night. The result is a less quality sleep obviously, plus just whatever impact of not getting O2 (to your brain, throughout your body) for short periods of time. This is called sleep apnea. If it's very serious and/or if there are drugs complications, you may not wake up (in time). (google sleep apnea deaths).
I have a watch that reliably records SPO2 throughout the night. I've had others use the watch. Almost everyone has some apnea events but some have regular events and some can be fairly deep. Always recommended to get a real sleep test (unfortunately expensive, where they basically do the same thing (plus other sensors)). The fix, if needed, is CPAP or forced air. Maybe yoga training can help. Probably, I don't know. That, lose weight, sleep on a slanted rock, sleep in the open air. But still, use CPAP.
So, how does it happen? You're asleep, you don't realize you aren't breathing. It's usually, during a dream event. If you wake up in it, you remember the dream, not the trauma of not breathing. In fact, you can't believe you weren't breathing (the readout will convince you but not immediately).
So I'll characterize this... Normally SPO2 is upwards of 95. I've seen people drop, in sleep, to 85, 87, not uncommon. Others drop to the low 80s. If you're in the 70s I think you've already turned blue.
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You can sit and hold your breath for 20 to 40 seconds. I've never seen anyone able to voluntarily drop below 90. Try it. Can't be done (not without training anyway). While asleep, you can cruise right by that. Not a good thing to do especially on a regular basis..
So, that's that. Remember I wear a watch. I'm not trained. See a specialist with any concern.
If you're curiuous, get a fitbit with SPO2 working. But I don't think it's reliable. I've explained, it's using reflection. There are $20 oximeters that are way more accurate and more reliable than what any reflective reader can provide. That's got to be why they haven't opened it up. The tech precedes Fitbit and $300 smart watches, but none are doing SPO2 accurately and reliably (they can't, while a $20 finger oximeter on Amazon can). And when you move at night, the readings can get interrupted.
The finger dongles won't stay on at night and most won't record. I've been using a 50F plus wrist pulse oximeter Innovo and download the data in the morning (to the computer). There's a bluetooth version now, it may do it on its own. It can also alarm when you tank (helps you wake up if you need to). Note: Fitbiit, please buy Innovo (or the originating tech) and do SPO2 right. (or somebody).
I would love to get a smart watch that does accurate heart (for sports) and SPO2. Eventually, there will be a bluetooth enabled finger sleeve sensor that can talk to your phone or smart watch. I've been waiting :). I hope it will be waterproof.
Hope that's a little helpful.
