How Do I Know if I Need Oxygen?

Hypoxia - Hypoxemia (when your body is low on Oxygen) can affect us in many different ways, and needing supplemental Oxygen can be a scary thing. This blog may help you on your path to gain information.

Maybe you have found this blog to figure out why you feel sluggish and can't ever wake up. Maybe you have a rapid heart beat, or shortness of breath. Some other symptoms of Low Oxygen could be:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Blue finger tips or Lips
• Chest Pain -Confusion
• Rapid Heart Beat
• Headache
• Sweating
• High Blood Pressure
• Rapid breathing/Hyperventilating
• Dizziness
• Ankle Swelling

Shortness of Breath

Hypoxemia is defined by low Oxygen levels in your blood. It can cause symptoms like difficulty breathing, racing heart rate, blueish skin/lips/finger tips, or headache.

Wheezing and Low Oxygen

This can be caused by several factors.

• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) happens when Oxygen levels drop too low due to fluid accumulation in your lungs.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Emphysema
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia

Many of these can be characterized by hearing a wheezing or crackling in your lungs.

All of these are serious factors and should be diagnosed by your doctor as their treatments vary.

Chest Pain and Low Oxygen

Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by low blood flow and oxygen to your year. This is typically due to a narrowing of coronary arteries which will directly affect the amount of oxygen your heart will receive. This is a symptom of an underlying heart problem. Seek your Doctors advice.

Confusion and Low Oxygen

Your entire body relies on Oxygen, and will behave strange when its levels drop too low. The brain can suffer permanent damage due to lack of Oxygen for a prolonged period. This normally starts around 4 minutes.  This is called Cerebral Hypoxia, and can lead to permanent brain damage if not addressed immediately.

Sweating and Low Oxygen

This is a direct response your body can possibly have as a fighting response to your bodies overall distress.

High Blood Pressure and Low Oxygen

Low Oxygen levels in your blood can make your pulmonary arteries narrow. This will cause your blood pressure to be elevated, which causes Pulmonary Hypertension.

Swollen Ankles and Low Oxygen

If your Oxygen levels are depleted for too long, this can interfere with your hearts functionality and make it hard for your blood to circulate. It can also lead to swelling in your lower legs (Edema). Without treatment it can interfere with your normal daily activities.

If you have any of these concerns, as always, you need to speak with your Doctor. Having Low Oxygen is a very dangerous issue and needs to be treated properly by a trained professional!