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When your body doesn't have enough oxygen, you could get hypoxemia or hypoxia. These are dangerous conditions. Without oxygen, your brain, liver, and other organs can be damaged just minutes after symptoms start. Hypoxemia (low oxygen in your blood) can cause hypoxia (low oxygen in your tissues) when your blood doesn't carry enough oxygen to your tissues to meet your body's needs. The word hypoxia is sometimes used to describe both problems. SymptomsAlthough they can vary from person to person, the most common hypoxia symptoms are:
If you have symptoms of hypoxia, call 911. How It's TreatedYou'll need to go to the hospital to get treatment for hypoxia and to keep a check on your oxygen level. The most important thing is to get more oxygen into your body. You'll receive it through a small plug in your nose or through a mask that covers your nose and mouth. For many people, this is enough to bring your oxygen level up to normal. An inhaler or asthma medicine by mouth may make breathing easier. If these don't help, the doctor might try giving you medicine through a vein in your arm (an IV). You might need steroid drugs for a short time to shrink inflammation in your lungs or antibiotics to treat an underlying infection. When your life is in danger and other treatments aren't working, you may need a machine to help you breathe. Causes of HypoxiaA severe asthma attack, or flare, can cause hypoxia in adults and kids. During an attack, your airways narrow, making it hard to get air into your lungs. Coughing to clear your lungs uses even more oxygen and can make symptoms worse. Hypoxia can also result from lung damage due to trauma. Other things can cause hypoxia include:
The best way to prevent hypoxia is to keep your asthma under control, every day. Stick with your asthma treatment plan. Work with your doctor to come up with an action plan for asthma attacks, so you know what to do when you have trouble breathing. Patients with low blood oxygen levels will usually have symptoms like shortness of breath, a racing heart, blue lips or fingertips and dizziness. Some people may even notice irritability, sweating and confusion. These signs usually indicate that there is inadequate oxygen reaching tissue and organs throughout the body. Low oxygen levels, or hypoxia, is a serious condition that can cause cellular damage and can be life-threatening. It can happen due to changes in blood composition, lung disease or circulation problems. The brain is the organ that is most at risk, as brain cells can die within 5 minutes of lack of oxygen. Therefore, if you notice signs of low oxygen, you should proceed immediately to the emergency room. The main symptoms of low saturation levels are: To identify a lack of oxygen, the doctor will perform a physical exam and order texting, like pulse oximetry or blood gases testing. This will help determine the current concentration of oxygen circulating in the blood. Read about how you can increase your blood oxygen level. The fastest way to measure saturation levels is through a pulse oximeter, which is a small piece of equipment that is attached to a fingertip. It contains a light sensor that detects the amount of oxygen molecules circulating in the blood. Generally, healthy people will have oxygen saturation levels over 95%. This value can dip to around 93% with a cold or flu, which is an expected finding and not of concern. However, when oxygen levels are noted to be less than 90%, it can be a sign of a serious illness. Learn more about how to measure your blood oxygen levels using pulse oximetry. To know if your blood oxygen level is within range, enter your results below: Ex: asthma, COPD, heart failure... Another way to measure your blood oxygen level is through blood gases testing. This is done through a blood sample, which is analyzed in the lab. This test checks for oxygen levels as well as carbon dioxide and bicarbonate levels in the blood. Main causesA low oxygen saturation can occur due to factors such as: 1. AltitudePlaces with an altitude over 3000 m (or 1.8 mi) can increase your risk for decreased oxygen levels. The further away from sea level, the less the oxygen content in the air, making the air difficult to breathe. This is also referred to as hypobaric hypoxia. It can cause several complications like acute pulmonary edema unrelated to the heart, cerebral edema, dehydration and hypothermia. 2. Lung diseaseChanges in the lungs caused by illnesses like asthma, emphysema, pneumonia or acute pulmonary edema can make it difficult for oxygen to enter the lungs and enter its membranes. This can reduce overall oxygen levels in the body. There are other types of situations that can also interfere with breathing, like neurologic disease or a coma. These conditions can impact how the lungs work. 3. Changes in blood compositionAnemia caused by a lack of iron or vitamins, bleeding or genetic disease can cause low oxygen levels in the body, even if your lungs are functioning properly. This occurs because anemia is associated with a lower concentration of hemoglobin on the blood cells. Hemoglobin in responsible for the transport of oxygen to the rest of the body. Therefore, with lower hemoglobin levels, there is less oxygen transported. Learn more about hemoglobin and how high or low results can impact the way your body functions. 4. Poor circulationThis occurs when there is enough oxygen in the blood, however it is unable to reach tissues or organs in the body due to an obstruction (like a heart attack). It can also happen when blood flow is weak, like with heart failure. 5. IntoxicationSituation likes carbon monoxide, medication overdoses, alcohol and psychoactive substances can interfere with the adhesion of oxygen onto hemoglobin or impact the absorption of oxygen into the tissues. These can all lead to low blood oxygen levels. 6. Neonatal hypoxiaNeonatal hypoxia occurs due to a deficiency of oxygen absorption by the baby through the placenta, leading to fetal distress. This can occur before, during or after the delivery and happens due to maternal, placental or fetal factors. It can lead to complications like cerebral palsy or intellectual disabilities. 7. Psychological factorsPeople with psychological disorders, like anxiety or chronic stress, use a higher amount of oxygen in times of distress. This can lead to the emergence of symptoms like shortness of breath, palpitations or confusion. 8. ClimateSome environmental conditions, like extreme heat or cold, will require higher amounts of oxygen to maintain metabolism and other normal bodily functions. This can increase your risk for hypoxia. What to doTreatment for low oxygen usually involves the use of an oxygen mask to stabilize oxygen levels. However, the situation will really only ever be treated once the underlying cause is addressed. Depending on the cause, some treatments may involve the use of antibiotics (to treat pneumonia, for example), inhalers (for asthma), medications to improve lung and heart functioning, treatment for anemia or antidotes for poisoning. In serious cases, where there is brain damage or if immediate treatment of the cause is not possible, artificial respiration and sedatives may be necessary in an intensive care unit. These interventions are required until the doctor is able to restore breathing capacity. What are signs your oxygen is low?When your blood oxygen falls below a certain level, you might experience shortness of breath, headache, and confusion or restlessness. Common causes of hypoxemia include: Anemia. ARDS (Acute respiratory distress syndrome)
How can I check my oxygen level at home?Can I check my blood oxygen (SP02) levels at home? Yes! Using a Finger Pulse Oximeter, which is a small device that is attached to your finger to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood travelling round your body.
How can I raise my oxygen level quickly?Breathing in fresh air: Opening your windows or going outside for a walk can increase the amount of oxygen that your body brings in, which increases your overall blood oxygen level.
How can I check my oxygen level without a oximeter?You are supposed to count the number of breaths you are taking in a minute. To do this, place your hand on your chest and count the number of times you breathe. If your respiratory rate is more than 30, you might have a low oxygen level.
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How to tell if your oxygen is low
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