Does Oxygen Level Drop During Sleep?

Everyone's oxygen levels in the blood are lower during sleep, due to a mildly reduced level of breathing. Also, some alveoli drop out of use during sleep. If your waking oxygen saturation is greater than about 94 percent on room air, it is unlikely that your saturation during sleep will fall below 88 percent.

What is normal oxygen level while sleeping?

Typically, doctors prefer that your oxygen level stay at or above 90% while sleeping. If your normal oxygen saturation is above 94% while you are awake, your oxygen level is unlikely to fall below 88% while you sleep, but if your doctor is concerned, they may order an overnight pulse oximetry test to be sure.

How much does your oxygen level drop when you sleep?

While asleep, blood oxygen levels typically remain between 95 and 100 percent; however, if levels fall below 90 percent, hypoxemia occurs. As the percentage of oxygen saturation decreases, the severity of hypoxemia increases.