Question

You volunteer for a sleep study and the researchers discover that your blood oxygen level drops many times during the night. It is likely that you have A) sleep-onset insomnia. B)

Answer 1

Sleep apnea leads to oxygen drop at night

Explanation:

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated stopping and starting of breathing while asleep. This happens due to excessive relaxation of throat muscles that hinder the normal breathing process resulting in decreased oxygen level in the blood (hypopnea)

In order to study the sleep pattern and the disturbances happening while asleep, a sleep study is done which can provide details like length and number of disruptions in the breathing process, oxygen levels, etc

During a sleep study, the oxygen level of the patient is monitored with a pulse oximeter attached to the patient’s toe, finger, and other parts.

Due to disturbed breathing patterns, while asleep, a person with OSA will receive a reduced amount of air during inhalation. This leads to reduced oxygen levels entering the lungs and decreased amount supplied to all parts of the body carried by blood. This decrease in oxygen in the blood to below about 88% leads to oxygen desaturation.  

A repeated and frequent drop of oxygen levels at night will lead to a more potentially dangerous condition called hypoxemia.

Answer 2

Complete Question:

You volunteer for a sleep study and the researchers discover that your blood oxygen level drops many times during the night. It is likely that you have

A) sleep-onset insomnia.

B) REM behavior disorder.

C) narcolepsy.

D) sleep apnea.

Correct Option:

It is likely that you have "sleep apnea".

Option: D

Explanation:

Sleep apnea is a disorder which is identified by frequent stoppage and breathing start while sleeping. This is due to extreme relaxation of the throat muscles that hinder the normal breathing mechanism leading to reduced blood oxygen levels (recognized as hypopnea).

Throughout a sleep study, the patient's oxygen level is tracked with a pulse oxymeter connected to the hand, finger as well as other parts of the patient. An individual with SA will get a decreased amount of air in inhalation due to irregular breathing patterns while asleep.