• Why Does Oxygen Saturation Fluctuate
• Healthy Blood Oxygen Level Apple Watch

Oxygen saturation is the fraction of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin relative to total hemoglobin (unsaturated + saturated) in the blood. The human body requires and regulates a very precise and specific balance of oxygen in the blood. Normal arterial blood oxygen saturation levels in humans are 95–100 percent. If the level is below 90 percent, it is considered low and called hypoxemia.^[1] Arterial blood oxygen levels below 80 percent may compromise organ function, such as the brain and heart, and should be promptly addressed. Continued low oxygen levels may lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest. Oxygen therapy may be used to assist in raising blood oxygen levels. Oxygenation occurs when oxygen molecules (O
₂) enter the tissues of the body. For example, blood is oxygenated in the lungs, where oxygen molecules travel from the air and into the blood. Oxygenation is commonly used to refer to medical oxygen saturation.

A normal arterial blood oxygen level typically falls between 75 and 100 mmHg. Your blood carbon dioxide level and pH - a measure of acidity or alkalinity - are usually measured along with the. Oxygen saturation is the fraction of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin relative to total hemoglobin (unsaturated + saturated) in the blood. The human body requires and regulates a very precise and specific balance of oxygen in the blood. Normal arterial blood oxygen saturation levels in humans are 95–100 percent.

Definition[edit]

Nobody's going to have a cardiac arrest with a blood oxygen level in that 94 range.' If someone has heart or lung disease, says Dr. Uppal, those 'normal' numbers may be a bit lower. 19 hours ago  Blood Oxygen level (SpO2) has become a critical factor during this ongoing pandemic. Keep the health concerns in mind, several smart band and watchmakers have started implementing the feature on their devices. So, if you own a smartwatch or fitness band that comes with the SpO2 measurement feature and wondering how to use it. Then, here’s our brand-wise guide on how to measure SpO2 level.

In medicine, oxygen saturation, commonly referred to as 'sats', measures the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites in the bloodstream occupied by oxygen.^[2] At low partial pressures of oxygen, most hemoglobin is deoxygenated. At around 90% (the value varies according to the clinical context) oxygen saturation increases according to an oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve and approaches 100% at partial oxygen pressures of >11 kPa. A pulse oximeter relies on the light absorption characteristics of saturated hemoglobin to give an indication of oxygen saturation.

Physiology[edit]

The body maintains a stable level of oxygen saturation for the most part by chemical processes of aerobic metabolism associated with breathing. Using the respiratory system, red blood cells, specifically the hemoglobin, gather oxygen in the lungs and distribute it to the rest of the body. The needs of the body's blood oxygen may fluctuate such as during exercise when more oxygen is required ^[3] or when living at higher altitudes. A blood cell is said to be 'saturated' when carrying a normal amount of oxygen.^[4] Both too high and too low levels can have adverse effects on the body.^[5]

Measurement[edit]

An SaO₂ (arterial oxygen saturation, as determined by an arterial blood gas test^[6]) value below 90% indicates hypoxemia (which can also be caused by anemia). Hypoxemia due to low SaO₂ is indicated by cyanosis. Oxygen saturation can be measured in different tissues:^[6]

• Venous oxygen saturation (SvO₂) is the percentage of oxygenated hemoglobin returning to the right side of the heart. It can be measured to see if oxygen delivery meets the tissues' demands. SvO₂ typically varies between 60% and 80%.^[7] A lower value indicates that the body is in lack of oxygen, and ischemic diseases occur. This measurement is often used under treatment with a heart lung machine (extracorporeal circulation), and can give the perfusionist an idea of how much flow the patient needs to stay healthy.
• Tissue oxygen saturation (StO₂) can be measured by near infrared spectroscopy. Although the measurements are still widely discussed, they give an idea of tissue oxygenation in various conditions.
• Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) is an estimation of the oxygen saturation level usually measured with a pulse oximeter device. It can be calculated with pulse oximetry according to the formula^[6] where HbO₂ is oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin) and Hb is deoxygenated hemoglobin.

Pulse oximetry[edit]

Pulse oximetry is a method used to estimate the percentage of oxygen bound to hemoglobin in the blood.^[8] This approximation to SaO₂ is designated SpO₂ (peripheral oxygen saturation). The pulse oximeter consists of a small device that clips to the body (typically a finger, an earlobe or an infant's foot) and transfers its readings to a reading meter by wire or wirelessly. The device uses light-emitting diodes of different colours in conjunction with a light-sensitive sensor to measure the absorption of red and infrared light in the extremity. The difference in absorption between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin makes the calculation possible.^[6]

Why Does Oxygen Saturation Fluctuate

Medical significance[edit]

Healthy individuals at sea level usually exhibit oxygen saturation values between 96% and 99%, and should be above 94%. At 1,600 meters' altitude (about one mile high) oxygen saturation should be above 92%.^[9]

An SaO₂ (arterial oxygen saturation) value below 90% causes hypoxia (which can also be caused by anemia). Hypoxia due to low SaO₂ is indicated by cyanosis, but oxygen saturation does not directly reflect tissue oxygenation. The affinity of hemoglobin to oxygen may impair or enhance oxygen release at the tissue level. Oxygen is more readily released to the tissues (i.e., hemoglobin has a lower affinity for oxygen) when pH is decreased, body temperature is increased, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) is increased, and 2,3-DPG levels (a byproduct of glucose metabolism also found in stored blood products) are increased. When the hemoglobin has greater affinity for oxygen, less is available to the tissues. Conditions such as increased pH, decreased temperature, decreased PaCO₂, and decreased 2,3-DPG will increase oxygen binding to the hemoglobin and limit its release to the tissue.^[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen)'. Mayo Clinic. mayoclinic.com. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
2. ^Kenneth D. McClatchey (2002). Clinical Laboratory Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 370. ISBN9780683307511.
3. ^'Understanding Blood Oxygen Levels at Rest'. fitday.com. fitday.com. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
4. ^Ellison, Bronwyn. 'NORMAL RANGE OF BLOOD OXYGEN LEVEL'. Livestrong.com. Livestrong.com. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
5. ^'Hypoxia and Hypoxemia: Symptoms, Treatment, Causes'. WebMD. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
6. ^ ^abcd'Understanding Pulse Oximetry: SpO2 Concepts'. Philips Medical Systems. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
7. ^https://www.lhsc.on.ca/critical-care-trauma-centre/central-venous/mixed-venous-oxygen-saturation
8. ^Peláez EA, Villegas ER (2007). 'LED power reduction trade-offs for ambulatory pulse oximetry'. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2007: 2296–9. doi:10.1109/IEMBS.2007.4352784. ISBN978-1-4244-0787-3. PMID18002450. S2CID34626885.
9. ^'Normal oxygen level'. National Jewish Health. MedHelp. February 23, 2009. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
10. ^Schutz (2001). 'Oxygen Saturation Monitoring by Pulse Oximetry'(PDF). American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Archived from the original(PDF) on January 31, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2011.

External links[edit]

Healthy Blood Oxygen Level Apple Watch