Blood Oxygen (SpO2) & Breathing issues#

1. What should I do if my RDI score is high or concerning?#

First, don’t panic! A high score on a single night can be caused by temporary factors like a loose sensor, sleeping position, alcohol consumption, or nasal congestion.

  1. Track for a few consecutive nights: Verify if the high score is a recurring pattern or just an isolated event or sensor artifact.
  2. Check your hardware setup: Ensure your phone or wearable is positioned correctly and your oximeter strap isn’t loose.
  3. Try adjusting your sleep habits: Sleeping on your back often increases breathing disturbances; try sleeping on your side.
  4. Consult a medical professional: If your RDI consistently remains above 15 (or if you experience symptoms like daytime fatigue, waking up gasping, or loud snoring), share your sleep graphs with a doctor or sleep specialist for a proper medical evaluation.

2. Why do I see temporary SpO2 disturbance dips?#

Disruptions and sudden dips in the SpO2 graph can sometimes be caused by hardware factors - such as an oximeter slipping on your finger or a smartwatch losing skin contact during movement. Re-measuring over multiple nights helps filter out sensor artifacts from actual breathing issues.

3. What do the blue O2 bubbles on my graph mean?#

An O2 icon O2 icon indicates a desaturation event - a temporary drop in blood oxygen levels (SpO2). Frequent drops contribute to your Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI), which can be an early indicator of sleep apnea or other breathing issues.

4. Can Sleep as Android officially diagnose me with Sleep Apnea?#

No. A formal medical diagnosis requires a clinical overnight study (polysomnography) supervised by professionals. Sleep as Android acts as an early warning and screening tool to alert you to potential patterns (like oxygen drops or breathing pauses) that you should discuss with a doctor.

5. What should I show my doctor if I suspect sleep issues?#

You can share your sleep history with your healthcare provider via:

  1. Online Read-Only Link (Recommended): Generate a secure, read-only link via your SleepCloud account. This allows your doctor to inspect interactive graphs, breath rate trends, and noise recordings.
  2. Screenshots: Export or take screenshots of your sleep charts showing your Breath Rate (RPM), Snoring logs, and SpO2 graphs.

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