Low SPO2 during the night
A few weeks ago I experienced an episode of atrial fibrillation. It was diagnosed in hospital following a few days of erratic pulse. It cleared up by itself and hasn't happened since. I was prescribed oral blood thinners, which I'd rather not take, and a doubling of my beta blocker.
I decided to do some investigating myself, so bought an at-home six-lead ECG (Kardia) and a wearable O2/pulse monitor (Wellue).
So far, I have seen no heart rhythm problem but I am now aware that my SPO2 varies quite a bit, dropping to as low as 88% during sleep. My heart rate is lowish, but that's partially due to the beta blocker (Atenolol).
This has answered a question for me. I have suffered fairly frequent awakening for many years, where I awake struggling to breathe and with weird 'popping' noises in my head. I used to think they were apneas, even though they didn't line up with anything in particular on my Oscar charts. Now I think they are some sort of oxygen starvation, though for what reason I don't know. My heart rate doesn't change during these episodes, but does rise as the episode progresses, whereupon I have a bad dream and wake up gasping.
So what could cause this? Remember it's been happening for ten years or more. Weird.
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
By chance, have you looked at your Potassium and Magnesium levels?
- Red
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
I've never been diagnosed with a potassium or magnesium deficiency, though it's been a while since I had the full spectrum test. If it is indeed a deficiency it's chronic because, as I said, this has been happening for a long time. I vaguely recall potassium being mentioned in connection to my heart disease or heart meds though. I think it was a warning to avoid overdoing it. Will check, thanks.
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
The spikes of low SPO2 at night persist, or at least they did until a few days ago. For the past five nights, I have experienced zero drops.
I started taking Quercetin. I bought it for my wife as it is said to have anti-cancer properties, but she was worried it might interfere with her chemo. I had taken it during covid and knew it was also reputed to benefit those with heart disease (tick), so thought to start taking it again. I didn't expect it to fix the SPO2 issue though. It has also severely reduced my heart palpitations (ectopic beats), so the signs are that it has had a positive effect on my heart function pretty much immediately.
When swotting up, I read that Quercetin's efficacy is improved if it is taken with Bromelain,and some manufacturers combine the two in one tablet. That's what I bought.
It's early days and the apparent improvements could just be coincidence, so I plan to continue for at least a few weeks.
Fingers crossed!
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
Please let us know how it works out. Thanks for the information.
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
I am similar to you. I have congenital heart condition, afib and was recently diagnosed with OSA. Just started my Aircurve 10 last week and out of 9 days only 3 did I wake feeling rested and full of energy. My Wellvue monitor shows no difference in my pulse OX. I am trying to get my Wellvue info to the doc. ( anybody know how?) but I wonder if all this is a scam or does cpap and bipap really improve your O2? And why doesn't the bipap machine monitor the pulse ox? I desaturate any where down to 79 but am at the mid to upper 80s at 8700' in Colorado. I am also on xarelto and while I don't like that I don't want a stroke either.
The bipap machine sounds like darth vadar! Argh.
Sympathies to you friend.
06-19-2025, 05:50 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-19-2025, 05:52 PM by StevesSp. Edited 1 time in total.)
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
My Wellue O2 ring can produce graphs displaying your 'score' across a week, month or longer. When I choose the last month I can see clearly when I started taking the Quercetin - the difference is so stark. For three weeks my O2 was up and down, night by night, with drops as low as 88%. Then the chart goes literally flat, not a single drop below 92% and even those are very few. It's quite remarkable.
So far, I've been taking the Q for nine days, and in that time I haven't had a single episode of awakening through suffocation. I haven't looked at my APAP data yet, which might add an interesting comparison, though those low O2 episodes I was having never showed up on the charts as an apnea.
All of this began with that single episode of afib, but the real revelation for me came from the Wellue O2 Ring, which revealed the startling extent of low SPO2 behind my sleep problem.
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
I think someone diagnosed with AFib and then observing low blood oxygen levels should consult their cardiologist or respirologist, after first trying a different monitor just to rule that out, vs. the options of not taking prescribed meds, taking herbal remedies or testing for electrolytes which might or might not be relevant.
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
(06-19-2025, 06:07 PM)Rickyricardo Wrote: I think someone diagnosed with AFib and then observing low blood oxygen levels should consult their cardiologist or respirologist, after first trying a different monitor just to rule that out, vs. the options of not taking prescribed meds, taking herbal remedies or testing for electrolytes which might or might not be relevant.
I have already seen my cardiologist. He ran a comprehensive ECG and echocardiogram and said I had normal sinus rhythm with no sign of any worsening of heart function. He also set up a stress test which I will have next week.
I have coronary artery disease, had a heart attack in '08 (four stents), a leaky valve and an enlarged aorta. Other than that, my heart is perfect!
RE: Low SPO2 during the night
An enlatged aorta puts you at risk for dicession or rupture. a ct scan is the only relable test. Vheck out Aortic Hope and The John Ritter Fdn for more info. Both of those are leathal.
s
