What is oxygen saturation in the blood?
The level of oxygen saturation in the blood indicates the percentage of red blood cells of a person that are loaded or filled with oxygen. Oxygen is transmitted by red blood cells to organs such as the brain and heart. If the oxygen level in the blood is too low, there is not enough oxygen to the organs. Without sufficient oxygen levels in the blood, the body cannot function normally.
There are several ways to measure oxygen saturation in the body. The pulse oximeter is one of the simplest and least invasive ways of measuring oxygen levels in the blood. Most pulse oximeters use a finger probe with a sensor to measure oxygen saturation. After the probe is placed on the person's finger, the oximeter gives digital deduct of the level of the person.
Another way of measuring oxygen saturation in the blood is thermal blood gas. Blood is taken either from brachial, femoral or radial artery. Blood is than a blood gas machine that analyzes blood and prints the result, including saturation of oxygen in the blood. Oxygen levels
may beT checked as part of a routine physical or when a patient is in a hospital. People who use supplementary oxygen at home may also want to monitor oxygen levels. Frequent measurements help patients determine the amount of oxygen they may need. Some patients who have serious health conditions may be on a continuous pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen saturation at all times.
oxygen levels do not always remain the same. Normal fluctuations occur. A sudden reduction in oxygen saturation in the blood may mean that breathing is not sufficient to maintain sufficient amount of oxygen in the body.
Normal levels of oxygen saturation are considered between 95 and 100 percent. It is considered an abnormal reading when oxygen saturation drops below 90. This condition is referred to as hypoxia. When levels are less than 80, the person is considered to be a seriously hypoxic.
different conditions can cause to reduceOxygen levels including emphysema, pneumonia, pulmonary edema and shock. People who have sleep apnea can develop low oxygen saturation during sleep. Breathing at high altitude may also cause blood oxygen levels.
When oxygen levels reduce too low, supplementary oxygen will often be administered to correct the situation. Oxygen may only be necessary until the basic condition is treated and blood saturation levels are improved. In other situations, oxygen may need to be administered permanently.