Hi all. My spo2 meter gives a score with many dips every night 5-10 dips with some as low as 78. Is this a problem or does the device just deviates a lot ?
Well, you are here on the wrong forum, since the standard Instinct has no PulseOx sensor, so users here cannot really tell you about their experience. If you own the Instinct Solar model, then there is a separate forum for it, where you'll get better feedback from other Instinct Solar users.
Generally though, (excluding the malfunction of the sensor) when the SpO₂ drops during the night, it may mean you suffer a sleep apnoea. Another possibility is a peripheral vasoconstriction - that can happen again as a consequence of the sleep apnoea, but also for example due to the cold. You should consider visiting a specialist for sleep disorders, since sleep apnoea may lead to serious consequences on your health.
On the other hand, the biggest drop in SpO₂ is at the end of the deep sleep, and it is only brief, so it indeed looks like it could be caused by the low breathing pattern, or a brief apnoea, but generally the saturation levels are not critical the whole night (the wrist PulseOx underreports the SpO₂ value, so the true saturation is likely a bit higher). Consulting a specialist would be still recommandable, though, I think, especialy if such low levels appear regularly.
