Hypoxemia, or lack of oxygen in the blood, is a condition in which the body has a lower than normal level of oxygen in the blood, causing the body to be unable to function. Patients need to receive appropriate treatment because if left untreated, it can be life-threatening.
In addition, Hypoxemia is similar to Hypoxia or tissue oxygen deficiency, where patients have less blood in the tissues than normal. Sometimes patients may have symptoms of both conditions at the same time. Therefore, the doctor will choose the treatment method based on the cause and the patient’s symptoms.
Symptoms of Hypoxemia
People with hypoxemia often have shortness of breath or wheezing, headache, rapid heartbeat, cough, confusion or dizziness, and dark purple nails, lips, or skin.
However, patients should see a doctor if they experience shortness of breath after mild exertion or while resting, if their shortness of breath worsens with exercise or other strenuous activities, or if they experience symptoms of sleep apnea, such as waking up suddenly in the middle of the night because they can’t catch their breath or feeling like they’re choking.
If the patient has shortness of breath along with coughing, rapid heartbeat , or has these symptoms while traveling to high altitudes, the patient should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible because it is a condition in which the lungs are not functioning properly and may be a symptom of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), which can be life-threatening.
Causes of Hypoxemia
Normally, blood carries oxygen to cells of various organs in the body so that those organs can function normally. If the amount of oxygen in the blood is lower than normal, it will cause Hypoxemia, which can occur for many reasons, such as:
- The air you breathe does not contain enough oxygen, such as when traveling to high altitudes or climbing mountains, causing oxygen levels to decrease.
- Lung dysfunction, such as in people with pneumonia, asthma, emphysema ,or pneumothorax .
- It results from other conditions or diseases that affect the delivery of oxygen into the bloodstream, such as anemia, acute respiratory failure, or heart disease.
- It is a result of using various types of drugs such as narcotics or anesthetics.
- Illness with COVID-19 ( COVID-19)
Diagnosis of Hypoxemia
Your doctor will diagnose hypoxemia by performing a physical exam to listen to your lungs and heart, checking your lips, fingers, or skin for dark purple spots, which is a sign of low blood oxygen levels, and checking the function of other organs involved.
In addition, the doctor may measure the oxygen level in the blood by other methods to confirm the diagnosis, such as measuring the oxygen saturation of the blood (Pulse Oximetry) by clamping a special device on the tip of the finger, analyzing the gas in the arteries (Arterial Blood Gas Test) by taking a blood sample from the artery to measure the oxygen level in the blood, or blowing breaths into a machine connected to a computer or device that helps analyze, etc.
Treatment of Hypoxemia
Treatment of hypoxemia focuses on increasing the oxygen level in the patient’s blood to normal levels and treating the underlying cause of the symptoms. If it is suspected that the illness is due to lung dysfunction, the doctor may treat the condition or disease that is causing the hypoxemia by using an inhaler to deliver medication directly to the lungs.
For patients with severe symptoms, doctors may use oxygen therapy, in which the patient receives oxygen through a small tube or mask. The amount and location of supplemental oxygen varies from person to person.
Complications of Hypoxemia
Hypoxemia affects the functioning of various organs in the body due to not getting enough oxygen. It can cause cyanosis, which makes the patient’s skin turn a dark green or purple, especially around the lips, hands, nails or feet. There is also excessive sweating and wheezing.
In addition, hypoxia may occur because the body is unable to transport enough oxygen to the organs. If the patient has this condition for a long time, it can be fatal because the heart and brain do not receive enough blood.
Hypoxemia Prevention
You can reduce your risk of developing hypoxemia by quitting smoking and getting vaccinated against lung infections, such as the COVID-19 vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, and flu vaccine.
In addition, you should take care of your health by drinking enough water, eating healthy, quitting smoking, practicing deep breathing correctly, and exercising with activities that are not too strenuous, such as walking or doing yoga, which can increase the oxygen level in the blood and reduce the risk of hypoxemia.
