Is Your Oxygen Saturation Level Low? Could You Have Hypoxemia?

Could you have hypoxemia? You're probably asking "How would I know, I don't know what it is?" Well, how about I fill you in? I have strong feelings about hypoxemia because it nearly killed my wife, slowly.

Your cells need oxygen. They get this oxygen through blood flow. The blood is oxygenated by the lungs. Obviously if something is wrong with the lungs like emphysema, then the blood oxygenation is compromised.

How do you know if you're blood oxygen levels are down, or, if you have hypoxemia? The problem is that sometimes, as in my wife's case you don't.

A person who has a lung problem such as COPD or emphysema is at risk. However, sometimes medications compromise the lungs.

In my wife's case it was the medication for rheumatoid arthritis Methotrexate that did significant damage to her lungs.

The two major symptoms of hypoxemia are shortness of breath and weakness.

Often when a person has a known breathing problem, as part of their exams when they see their physician, a tool will be clipped on the end of the finger to measure their oxygen saturation level. It takes about five seconds. Normal is between 95 and 100. It is of a concern if the reading goes below 90 and it is a major concern if it goes below 80.

If the oxygen saturation level goes too low it can be fatal.

The major danger of hypoxemia is that you may be losing oxygenation and not know it because it happens little-by-little. You're getting weaker but you don't notice it and then you get so weak you don't feel like going to the doctor.

My wife is a case in point.

She had an infection but was not presenting with a fever. She got weak and simply wanted to sleep. Finally we had to take her to the doctor. However after her shower, she collapsed in the bed and just could not go anywhere. We had her go by ambulance.

When she entered the emergency room and had the initial workup, it was found that her oxygen saturation rate was 65. What had happened was that she had weakened and her lungs had become less and less effective from the medication damage. She didn't notice the increasing shortness of breathe because it was gradual.

The oxygen saturation level is something that many people don't think about as a vital statistic.

If you take a heavy-duty medication or have been on a heavy-duty medication for awhile; if you have a problem with persistent weakness; if you have a problem catching your breath or if you have a lung condition in conjunction with any of these symptoms, most doctors will be happy to let you swing by and have your oxygen level checked. As I said it takes all of five seconds but it could save your life.

Personal Experience