Blood Oxygen Levels

Oxygen is one of the important basic requirements for sustenance of life. The normal blood oxygen levels are a measurement of the saturation of oxygen in the blood. The red blood cells contain a molecule known as hemoglobin that binds to the atmospheric oxygen and carries it to different parts of the cell. When there is any kind of variation in the oxygen levels in the blood, it can lead to lots of problems. Given below are details pertaining to normal levels of oxygen in the blood and what any variation in these levels signifies.

Normal Blood Oxygen Levels

In most cases, an oxygen level that hovers around 95 - 100% is considered healthy. This range is considered to be the one which falls under normal oxygen levels, that is, this is the range required for smooth functioning of body cells. Any reading below 95% is a cause of concern which needs to be investigated by a medical personnel. The general term used to know the oxygen saturation in blood is simply 'sats'. This is a measurement of the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites that are occupied by oxygen in the bloodstream. When there is low partial pressure of oxygen in the body, most of the hemoglobin is deoxygenated, that is, without any oxygen. At around 90%, the oxygen saturation begins to increase according to the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve and gradually approaches the mark of 100%. Any value below 90% is what is referred to as hypoxemia - low oxygen levels in the body. This is generally observed in cyanosis, that is, bluish discoloration of skin starts to appear as a symptom. The blood oxygen levels while sleeping tend to be slightly lower than normal, since the body is in a state of rest and so does not require very high amounts of oxygen. Sometimes though, a person may end up getting insufficient amount of oxygen at night, which may even disturb his sleep patterns. This condition is referred to as sleep apnea.

Levels of oxygen in the body can be measured with the help of a variety of methods. The most common way of determining whether blood oxygen levels are healthy or not is with the help of a blood test, used to check the arterial blood gas. Another, much more convenient way of checking oxygen levels in the blood is by using a pulse oximeter. This is a small device attached to the tip of the finger and which measures oxygen levels in the blood by means of a light sensor.

High Blood Oxygen Levels

There is a condition wherein a person may end up with very high levels of oxygen in the blood. This generally happens as a result of breathing elevated concentrations of oxygen. It is known as hyperoxia. It is a serious condition because it can lead to cell death and damage, mostly in the central nervous system, eye and lungs. People who are more susceptible to suffering from this condition include the scuba divers and those who are undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Depending on the amount of exposure, there may be central nervous system toxicity and pulmonary and ocular toxicity. This could lead to symptoms like disorientation, breathing problems and disturbed vision. In cases where oxygen intoxication is very high, there could be oxidative damage to the cell, collapse of alveoli of lungs, detachment of the retina and seizures. This kind of toxicity can be managed by reducing exposure to elevated oxygen.

Low Blood Oxygen Levels

Low oxygen levels in the body act as an indicator of many possible conditions. These conditions could be environmental or may even result from a pathological condition present in the body. Some of the examples are anemia (decreased amount of hemoglobin in the body), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, lung diseases like pneumonia, pneumothorax, shock, etc. Thus, the condition of hypoxemia results from a number of diseases. In such cases, if a person is wondering about how to increase blood oxygen levels, then it is best to go into a region that has fresh air or take the required instant acting medication. In case of recurrent severe shortness of breath, it is best to see a doctor at the earliest. In case of hypoxemia, it becomes necessary to check the blood that is flowing to the arteries. A sample of blood from arteries is therefore, taken for measurement of oxygen present in blood.

This was all about normal and abnormal blood oxygen levels. This is an important parameter used for checking the presence of any lung disease or abnormalities in the level of hemoglobin in the blood. It is important to ensure that oxygen levels in the blood fall within the ideal range, as any kind of deprivation of oxygen to the body, even for a small span of time, can lead to irreversible damage to body's organs.