Low and normal blood oxygen levels: What to know
Blood oxygen level is the amount of oxygen circulating in the blood. Most of the oxygen is carried by red blood cells, which collect oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to all parts of the body.
The body closely monitors blood oxygen levels to keep them within a specific range, so that there is enough oxygen for the needs of every cell in the body.
A person’s blood oxygen level is an indicator of how well the body distributes oxygen from the lungs to the cells, and it can be important for people’s health.
Normal and low blood oxygen levels
A normal blood oxygen level varies between 75 and 100 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
A blood oxygen level below 60 mm Hg is considered low and may require oxygen supplementation, depending on a doctor’s decision and the individual case.
When blood oxygen level is too low compared to the average level of a healthy person, it can be a sign of a condition known as hypoxemia. This means that the body has difficulty delivering oxygen to all of its cells, tissues, and organs.
The most efficient way to monitor blood oxygen levels is by an arterial blood gas or ABG test. For this test, a blood sample is taken from an artery, usually in the wrist. This procedure is very accurate, but it can be a little painful.
An ABG test can be difficult to do at home, so a person may wish to do an alternative test, using a small device known as a pulse oximeter.
A pulse oximeter is a small clip that is often put on a finger, although it can also be used on the ear or toe. It measures blood oxygen indirectly by light absorptionthrough a person’s pulse.
Although the pulse oximeter test is easier, quicker, and not painful, it is not as accurate as the ABG test. This is because it can be influenced by factors such as dirty fingers, bright lights, nail polish, and poor circulation to the extremities.
For people who wish to purchase a pulse oximeter, there is a range of easy-to-use devices available online.
Symptoms of low blood oxygen levels
Low blood oxygen levels can result in abnormal circulation and cause the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath
- headache
- restlessness
- dizziness
- rapid breathing
- chest pain
- confusion
- high blood pressure
- lack of coordination
- visual disorders
- sense of euphoria
- rapid heartbeat
Hypoxemia, or oxygen levels below the normal values, may be caused by:
- not enough oxygen in the air
- inability of the lungs to inhale and send oxygen to all cells and tissues
- inability of the bloodstream to circulate to the lungs, collect oxygen, and transport it around the body
Several medical conditions and situations can contribute to the above factors, including:
- asthma
- heart diseases, including congenital heart disease
- high altitude
- anemia
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD
- interstitial lung disease
- emphysema
- acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS
- pneumonia
- obstruction of an artery in the lung, for instance, due to a blood clot
- pulmonary fibrosis or scarring and damage to the lungs
- presence of air or gas in the chest that makes the lungs collapse
- excess fluid in the lungs
- sleep apnea where breathing is interrupted during sleep
- certain medications, including some narcotics and painkillers
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