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If you want to check your blood oxygen manually, you have to have the watch face up.
So how can the Watch when taking background blood oxygen readings work since you have no guarantee that the Watch is face up...especially during sleep?
TIA
Roger Sinden wrote:
Re first para ...I agree but it's not what the PR marketing hype would have you believe
Never believe PR and marketing hype.
All of the above to my mind makes any app that claims to detect sleep apnea to be snake oil.
Well, of course. Given that sleep apnea is generally diagnosed by nocturnal polysomnography, a procedure done in a medical facility, it seems overly optimistic to think that a consumer-grade wearable would be able to tell you much.
Roger Sinden wrote:
Re first para ...I agree but it's not what the PR marketing hype would have you believe
Never believe PR and marketing hype.
All of the above to my mind makes any app that claims to detect sleep apnea to be snake oil.
Well, of course. Given that sleep apnea is generally diagnosed by nocturnal polysomnography, a procedure done in a medical facility, it seems overly optimistic to think that a consumer-grade wearable would be able to tell you much.
I think it only takes the readings when your watch is face up. I just looked at my O2 data and I don't see very many from hours when I would usually be sleeping. I do see readings from the times of night when I know I'm inclined to wake up and be awake for a while.
That is the conclusion that I am coming to and IMO a serious weakness in the Apple Watch and means that apps like NapBot that claim to help diagnose sleep apnea are a waste of money and time.
On speaking to Apple support earlier today, the guy mentioned that the number of readings he got during the night and day (when background measurement was on) varied but he couldn't explain why.
Well..what I think happens is that it tried to take the measurement but if the watch happens at that particular time to not be oriented correctly then it will abort the measurement.
TBH I have come to the conclusion that NONE of these wearables, by any manufacturer, will provide adequate blood oxygen level readings.
Roger Sinden wrote:
That is the conclusion that I am coming to and IMO a serious weakness in the Apple Watch and means that apps like NapBot that claim to help diagnose sleep apnea are a waste of money and time.
Well, Apple specifically states "Blood Oxygen app measurements are not intended for medical use, including self-diagnosis or consultation with a doctor, and are only designed for general fitness and wellness purposes." So, there's that.
n speaking to Apple support earlier today, the guy mentioned that the number of readings he got during the night and day (when background measurement was on) varied but he couldn't explain why.
Because, like your heart rate, your temperature, your hydration levels, and pretty much everything else about your body, your O2 sats vary over the course of a day. That's normal.
TBH I have come to the conclusion that NONE of these wearables, by any manufacturer, will provide adequate blood oxygen level readings.
I guess that all depends on adequate for what?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/well/live/coronavirus-pulse-oximeter-oxygen.html
Re first para ...I agree but it's not what the PR marketing hype would have you believe
Re second para ...I was talking about the number of samples and not the actual measurements
Re third para ...measuring Sp02 to determine the presence or absence of sleep apnea. I think that there is a good chance that they'd be OK to detect poor Sp02 due to Covid.
All of the above to my mind makes any app that claims to detect sleep apnea to be snake oil.
blood oxygen measurement during sleep
