What are safe oxygen levels for COPD patients? -Lovego weekly report

Understanding your oxygen levels can greatly help you know what levels to maintain and when they are unsafe. If you are receiving supplemental oxygen, careful monitoring is highly required. Some individuals experience headaches, drowsiness, and in extreme cases, lack of respiration, as a cause of increased retention of carbon dioxide in the body. But these effects of oxygen on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be avoided by learning what levels are safe and which aren’t. Read on to find out more!

Hypoxemia or low blood oxygen levels

Hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen level, is a condition where there is low supply of oxygen in the arterial blood. The levels are lower than the normal value which is between 80 and 100 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In COPD patients, breathing or ventilation problems are seen as the reason for this.

Blood oxygen levels can be measured in two ways: through an ABG test and by using a pulse oximeter (or pulse ox). Arterial blood gas (ABG) test is a blood test. Your doctor will draw blood from an artery rather than a vein because it has a pulse and blood drawn from arteries is oxygenated. A pulse oximeter is a device that measures blood oxygen levels by estimating the amount of oxygen present in your blood even without any punctures or needles. It works by sending infrared light and measuring how much of it is reflected off the gases from the capillaries in your finger or earlobe, and in infants, across a foot.

What should my oxygen levels be?

The normal values as measured by an arterial blood gas test are from 75 to 100 mmHg. Through pulse oximetry, normal oxygen levels range from 95 to 100 percent. Therefore, values below normal are considered low and require an individual to receive supplemental oxygen.

Supplementary oxygen therapy and why it is helpful

Supplemental oxygen increases the amount of pure oxygen you inhale. By receiving supplemental oxygen, your lungs have more oxygen to absorb and deliver to the rest of your body. You’ll be able to experience breathing more easily and be able to function in your activities normally without becoming short of breath as you get the right amount of oxygen your body requires.

If you religiously follow your doctor’s advice and regularly monitor your blood oxygen levels, you will be able to enjoy a lot of benefits such as longer life, improved quality of living, and decreased breathlessness. Plus, you’ll be able to perform better physical activities such as exercise, improved sexual performance, better social life, and more convenient traveling.

Are you ready to take the next step?

If you’re not into supplementary oxygen therapy yet, talk to your doctor to know more about how you can maintain your blood oxygen levels in the normal range. If you’re currently using supplementary oxygen therapy, enjoy all the benefits you can get by following what’s prescribed by your doctor to experience a healthier and more enjoyable life without being breathless!

Are your oxygen levels within the normal range? How has supplementary oxygen therapy helped you? Share your experience with us in the comments below!