Given that a lot of people with AF have sleep apnea (apparently it increases the risk of AF by about 5 times), does anyone know if there's an app for an iphone to determine if you have sleep apnea? There seem to be a few which determine how well you sleep but I'm not sure how good they are.
Thanks
Mark
Good question!
I had mine diagnosed by hospital. I had to wear so many monitors doubtful one app would do it.
Eileen
I had a monitor attached to my finger and wrist so I would think an app on your phone unless there was something attached to you while asleep would not work?
I seem to have periods of sleep apnea were I wake gasping for breath. However I have not a good nights sleep for 6 years. I have Lung and heart problems.
The presence of sleep apnoea is assessed by monitoring your blood oxygen level overnight by means of a sensor attached to your fingernail (it measures the colour and hence oxygen level under the nail).
At least that was my experience when I was diagnosed with SA by my local hospital. The results showed that I stopped breathing on average for ten minutes in every half hour, and I was provided with a CPAP machine which gave me a new lease of life (until it was determined that I had AF).
Any app (if available) would presumably require the use of a similar attachment.
Hi Mark, yes, a very good question. According to Mr Google, there are lots of apps to monitor your sleep, but I'm not aware of any that will actually diagnose SA. Have a look at <appcrawlr.com/ios/home-slee...; <mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...; <sleepcare.com/>; <sleepjunkies.com/sleep-apne.... (NB I have no connection with any of these sites). And there are lots more to choose from.
The Epworth Sleepiness Test, the Berlin Questionnaire, and the STOP-BANG Test, are all good screening tools, and will tell you either that you probably don't need to worry, or that you should get yourself to a Sleep Clinic, pronto. Mr Google will give you details. If you have a bed partner, the most accurate tool is known as the Elbow Test. If you don't have bruised ribs, you probably don't have OSA! (That was how mine was found, 20 years ago!)
More seriously, if you DO have OSA, your life is being shortened, every night that you don't sleep properly. Have it properly checked. And please don't waste your time, and money, on nasal strips, or sprays, or other snake oil fixes. They do NOT work! You have a choice of a full Sleep Study (polysomnograph, or PSG) which involves going in to a Sleep Clinic, and being fitted out with 15 to 20 electrodes, and which tells you more than you probably ever wanted to know; or a Home Sleep Test (HST), with about 5 or 6 electrodes, and done in your own home. The main thing is to have the test done by a reputable Clinic, and not someone who is only interested in selling you some kit.
Thank you for starting the discussion. Let us know how you get on.
Many thanks for all the replies. There do appear to be very few apps which cover sleep apnea. I tried one from Saanzale's list - Sleep Assess - which records your snoring at night. You can then compare the sound and graph shape to various examples including sleep apnea. However it didn't pick anything up, not even any significant snoring, though I do think I slept on my side all night which would have helped. I'll try again tonight.
On the tests, I came out at high risk on one and low risk on the other two.
For a full sleep apnea test, you would need you go to a sleep lab, though I really don't want to do that unless I have some solid evidence, which I don't. Analysis of your breathing and snoring should be sufficient to give an indication of whether you are likely to have OSA.
Mark
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