What Is The Normal Oxygen Level While Sleeping?

Posted on Tue, 22 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 Answered on

Fri, 23 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : when I'm sleeping my oxygen level is 58 is that ok?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is not okay but the measuring device is properly faulty!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this low oxygen level during sleep that you have reported. 58 is so low that you cannot survive without oxygen supplementation. The fact that this doesn't seem to be the case suggests that your device is not reporting the true numbers. My first step is that you should control this with another device or in a hospital milieu to make sure your device is working good.

I hope this sheds some light and is of help. Keep me updated as you work on getting the device evaluated first. I wish you well.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (8 hours later)

Thank you so much. I went to a heart Doctor for chest pain and sleep was brought up, the device was thought them. It started off at 98% dropped to 88% once I laid down them once asleep it dropped at points to 59%. The office I dropped the device off at gave me the read out then faxed it to the heart Doctor. Im worried and was wanting a faster answer than waiting for 3 weeks to my follow up. So we know the device is right, what are your thoughts?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I will say be relaxed!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this precision.

If you had no symptoms, then am not worried. No one jhas readings of 58% and doesn't exhibit symptoms of significant distress. This tells me that there is something going on with the measures. I prefer to listen to my patients rather than readings. So if you have symptoms associated with this, report them for review. If there are no associated symptoms, I will say be calm and only monitor for any possible symptoms.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Let me know what your immediate thoughts are.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Ok my systems are extreme fatigue, Felling like I haven't slept any, getting very sleepy during the day, not having much strength. My husband has woke me up many times thinking I had stopped breathing, and I have a rattled snore. Oh and headaches if that matters, they feel like the tired headaches that happen when you have been up to long with no sleep. What I went to the heart Doctor for was left side chest pain that runs up my neck and down my left arm.
I really thank you for you helping me.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
This is suggestive of sleep apnea!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for these details. I have reviewed the information fully and this is suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea probably from the airways. This is most common among persons with weight difficulties. Please let me know whether you have nay difficulties maintaining a normal weight.

For now, the best approach would be to do a comprehensive sleep study. Am pretty convinced you might need a breathing aid during sleeps to ensure you get a constant supply of oxygen and no intervals of reduced oxygen delivery.

I hope this helps, I wish you well. Thanks and feel free to ask for more details if need be.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar