System and method for determining repetitive airflow reductions

A method of determining a repetitive airflow reduction of an individual, the method comprising:

• detecting a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal having a pulsatile AC component superimposed on a DC baseline with a PPG detection module;
• analyzing the DC baseline of the PPG signal, with a PPG baseline analysis module, to detect one or more threshold crossings with respect to an acceptable threshold correlated to normal breathing;
• and
• determining an occurrence of the repetitive airflow reduction with a repetitive airflow reduction determination module, wherein the determining operation comprises analyzing the one or more threshold crossings.

A tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium that includes one or more sets of instructions configured to direct a computer to:

• detect a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal having a pulsatile AC component superimposed on a DC baseline;
• analyze the DC baseline of the PPG signal to detect one or more threshold crossings with respect to an acceptable threshold correlated to normal breathing;
• and
• determine an occurrence of the repetitive airflow reduction through an analysis of the one or more threshold crossings.