You check your oxygen level at home with a non-invasive pulse oximeter, a small clip-on device for your fingertip that uses light to estimate blood oxygen (SpO2) and pulse. For an accurate reading, ensure your hand is warm, remove nail polish, rest for five minutes, clip the oximeter onto a middle or index finger, and hold still until the number (ideally 95-100%) stabilizes.
The brain is the body organ most sensitive to lack of oxygen. Low oxygen concentrations can include giddiness, mental confusion, loss of judgment, loss of coordination, weakness, nausea, fainting, loss of consciousness, and death.
There are two main ways to measure or test blood oxygen levels: through a blood draw test and through pulse oximetry (using an oximeter). A blood draw test provides much more information about your oxygen levels than an oximeter does.
Be familiar with signs or symptoms of low oxygen levels:
We recommend that you:
Restlessness is an early sign of hypoxia. An elevated heart rate (above 100 beats per minute in adults) can be an early sign of hypoxia. An increased respiration rate (above 20 breaths per minute in adults) is an indication of respiratory distress. Shortness of breath is a subjective symptom of not getting enough air.
Contact your provider if your oxygen saturation level is 92% or lower. If it falls to 88% or lower, seek immediate medical attention. If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider.
Most pulse oximeters are accurate to within 2% to 4% of the actual blood oxygen saturation level. This means that a pulse oximeter reading may be anywhere from 2% to 4% higher or lower than the actual oxygen level in arterial blood. A number of factors can impair the functioning or accuracy of a pulse oximeter.
The SpO2 normal range is generally considered to be between 95% and 100%. Many medical sources suggest that 92% is the point at which a person should become seriously concerned and call 999. During the pandemic, the NHS advised people to call 111 or their GP when blood oxygen levels reached 93% or 94%.
However, do be aware that some conditions, like heart failure and skeletal muscle abnormalities, can combine with conditions like COPD to cause breathlessness without a low oxygen saturation level.
Silent hypoxia (also known as happy hypoxia) is generalised hypoxia that does not coincide with shortness of breath. This presentation is known to be a complication of COVID-19, and is also known in walking pneumonia, altitude sickness, and rebreather diving.
Shortness of breath. Rapid breathing. Fast or pounding heartbeat. Confusion.
Postnasal Drip – Excess mucus can drip down the back of the throat, leading to coughing, throat irritation, and even shortness of breath. Reduced Oxygen Intake – When nasal congestion is severe, people may start breathing through their mouths.
There are many reasons you may need supplemental oxygen. One is if you are not getting enough oxygen (this is called hypoxia) after a bad case of pneumonia put you in the hospital. Symptoms of hypoxia include headaches, weakness, shortness of breath, fainting, chest pain, muscle pain and lightheadedness.
Hypoxia is low levels of oxygen in your body tissues. It causes symptoms like confusion, restlessness, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, and bluish skin. Many chronic heart and lung conditions can put you at risk for hypoxia. Hypoxia can be life-threatening.
How to improve your blood oxygen levels
It is not unusual for the saturation of an individual living with COPD to linger between 88% and 92%. Though it's not possible to have too much oxygen in your blood, blood oxygen levels that dip below the healthy range cause noticeable symptoms.
The best sleep position to increase oxygen levels is usually sleeping on your side, because it helps keep the airway open and reduces obstructions that can lower oxygen during the night.
In the hospital, some people need oxygen therapy if they are not breathing in enough oxygen on their own. This is also called supplemental oxygen. It's a way to get more oxygen into your body.
Studies have shown that many low-cost pulse oximeters demonstrate highly inaccurate readings. However, some low-cost pulse oximeters have performed with similar accuracy to more expensive devices when used in healthy subjects.
Low oxygen levels can make you feel tired and mentally foggy. If you are experiencing chronic fatigue, headaches, dizziness or confusion, it may be due to low oxygen levels. Oxygen therapy can help improve energy and cognitive abilities by ensuring the brain and muscles get enough oxygen.
Some common causes of hypoxemia include: