What does it mean to have low blood oxygen levels?

Feb 10, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Ren Yi

Introduction

Low blood oxygen, or low blood oxygen saturation, may be related to environmental factors, obesity, iron-deficiency anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning, pulmonary embolism, and other conditions. It is recommended to visit a hospital to determine the underlying cause and follow medical advice for treatment. During recovery, patients can perform respiratory muscle training to promote functional recovery. In daily life, it is advisable to lose weight through a balanced diet and appropriate physical activity.

Low blood oxygen, or low blood oxygen saturation, may be related to environmental factors, obesity, iron deficiency anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning, pulmonary embolism, and other conditions. It is recommended to visit a hospital to determine the exact cause and follow medical advice for treatment. The analysis is as follows:

1. Environmental factors: In high-altitude areas such as plateaus, the oxygen content in the air is relatively lower, reducing the amount of oxygen inhaled and thereby causing decreased blood oxygen saturation. It is recommended to rest appropriately and breathe slowly, which can help improve low blood oxygen levels.

2. Obesity: Obese individuals may accumulate fat in the chest area, which can restrict chest expansion and lung inflation, requiring greater effort from the respiratory muscles to complete breathing movements. This affects oxygen intake and leads to reduced blood oxygen saturation. It is advisable to lose weight through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise.

3. Iron deficiency anemia: Excessive blood loss or poor dietary habits can lead to iron deficiency anemia, which affects the blood's ability to carry oxygen. When hemoglobin levels decrease, blood oxygen saturation also drops, often accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue. It is recommended to promptly take iron supplements as directed by a physician, such as ferrous sulfate tablets, iron polymaltose complex capsules, or ferrous fumarate granules, to increase hemoglobin levels. Additionally, improve your diet by consuming more iron-rich foods like lean meat, animal liver, and leafy green vegetables.

4. Carbon monoxide poisoning: When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it binds to hemoglobin, preventing oxygen from effectively binding to hemoglobin, thereby causing low blood oxygen saturation. In severe cases, this may lead to fainting. Immediately move the affected individual to a place with fresh air and away from the carbon monoxide environment. Oxygen therapy may be necessary to accelerate the elimination of carbon monoxide and enhance oxygen intake.

5. Pulmonary embolism: Pulmonary embolism occurs when a thrombus, fat, or air bubble blocks the pulmonary artery or its branches, impairing effective oxygen exchange in the lungs. When blood flow to the lungs is obstructed, even with sufficient oxygen intake, the amount of oxygen obtained by the blood decreases, manifesting as reduced blood oxygen saturation, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms. Follow medical advice to promptly administer medications such as warfarin sodium tablets, heparin sodium injection, or recombinant streptokinase for injection.

During recovery, patients can perform respiratory muscle training to promote functional recovery.

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What does it mean when elderly people confined to bed have blood oxygen levels between 80% and 90%, and what should be done?

Blood oxygen refers to blood oxygen saturation. For bedridden elderly individuals, a blood oxygen saturation level between 80% and 90% is considered relatively low. This condition may be associated with factors such as sputum obstruction, anemia, respiratory muscle weakness, emphysema, or cardiac insufficiency, and requires management through general treatment, medication, and other approaches. It is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation at a hospital and undergo symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance.

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Is it necessary to continuously receive oxygen therapy when blood oxygen levels are between 88% and 90%?

Blood oxygen should refer to blood oxygen saturation. If an individual's arterial blood oxygen saturation is between 88% and 90% and there are no abnormal symptoms, continuous oxygen inhalation may not be necessary. However, if there are accompanying abnormal symptoms such as chest pain or rapid breathing, continuous oxygen inhalation might be required. If the venous blood oxygen saturation is between 88% and 90%, oxygen inhalation is generally not needed. If any abnormalities occur, prompt medical attention is recommended.