Will Low Blood Oxygen Levels Kill You?
Low oxygen levels will kill you slowly, OR can kill you instantly!
For years I worked in a very large hospital in Tacoma, Washington. I can not count the times that I have been part of a CPR effort on someone who had taken their oxygen off to get out of bed, and then experienced a cardiac arrest in the bathroom.
Very low oxygen levels can cause stimulation of your vagus nerve, which can stop your heart. Bearing down can also stimulate the vagus nerve causing your heart to stop.
You do NOT want to have low oxygen levels when you are sitting on the toilet!
2am, lunch time for night shift, the familiar bells, bing-bing-bing. Code 4 room xyz, Code 4 room xyz!
Instead of lunch, we were on our knees in shit, trying to save someones life.
You WANT to meet your oxygen needs, especially when you are on the toilet.
If you have low blood oxygen levels any time you exert yourself, sleep, habitually hold your breath, or anything else you might do, you are robbing your vital organs of the oxygen needed for wellness.
If you have low blood oxygen levels you WILL lose your eye sight, your short term memory, your strength, and your charming disposition.
Guaranteed.
If your low blood oxygen levels become extreme enough …You face the possibility that your heart will spontaneously stop.
If you choose not to treat low oxygen levels you face the deterioration of your quality of life, and the possibility of sudden death!
Treating Low Oxygen Levels Means:
- ideally, PREVENT every occurrence of low blood oxygen level (anything below 92% oxygen saturation)
- reduce the restriction in your lungs so your breath is natural and expansive
- be as active as possible without depleting your blood oxygen level
Guard against low oxygen levels so that you have the vitality and memory to utilize a Personal Action Plan For Better Breathing!
You WILL regain quality of life, avoid further deterioration, and even reverse disease by rediscovering Your Sacred Breathing.
Will low blood oxygen levels kill you?
Yes, most definitely!
Can high blood oxygen levels HEAL you?
Only if your blood oxygen is FUNCTIONAL.
The good news is that exercising AND sleeping with supplemental oxygen can actually reverse low blood oxygen levels in some cases, and will facilitate quicker healing from any disease process.
If you have low blood oxygen levels, don’t fade away or suddenly drop dead:
- Use supplemental oxygen with every activity that causes low blood oxygen levels.
- Supplemental oxygen should be used 24 hours a day if there is ANY sign of low blood oxygen level at rest.
- Practice relaxing everyday! Tension is the biggest obstacle to fully utilizing your lungs.
- Develop Breathe Awareness by focusing on your slow exhale.
- Use potassium chloride or unprocessed sea salts instead of table salt.
- Avoid processed foods. (Including bread.)
- Sip pure water all day every day.
- Avoid sugar and sweeteners.
- Get 30 minutes of direct sunlight everyday.
- Laugh! It really is the best medicine!
It’s tough to come to terms with oxygen use. You may feel like it just isn’t worth the inconvenience, irritation and embarrassment!
Without a doubt, oxygen is your best bet to maintain an active life!
You can truthfully say that your oxygen machine is your MOST valuable health tool!
Want to improve your oxygen level?
Start by meeting your basic needs now.
Click on the pink button to check out home oxygen.
Need Oxygen Provider?
Just supplementing your oxygen level will keep you out of immediate danger.
But to really improve your health and create more functional oxygen in your body you need Heart Failure Solutions better breathing instruction …
“Your Sacred Breathing Hand Book”
Learn how to:
- create more energy
- access quicker healing
- reduce water retention
- create hormone balance
- improve your emotional health
- reduced your risk of stroke
- reduced your risk of heart attack
- harness the power to kill harmful bacteria
- create a less cancer friendly body! (oxygen destroys cancer cells)
- decreased inflammation (chronic inflammation is the cause of ALL chronic illness!)
Get good and pink with your home oxygen, and then click on the blue button and get serious about addressing this life threatening health issue!
Life Changing Information!Many blessings,
Carrie, “The Life Breath Coach”
Heart Failure Solutions
PS- Remember everyday:
- Relax and Release tension
- Exhale Slowly
- Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life
Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter
81 Comments
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I no longer need a heart transplant!
Thanks to The Life Breath Club and the awesome information in "Your Sacred Breathing Hand Book" I have got my life back!
I've increased my ejection fraction by over 10% AND the pressures in my right heart has improved to much that I no longer need a heart transplant!
I have so much more energy and I know that I will continue to heal and get stronger!
Thanks to The Life Breath Club, Life Is Good Again! My wife and I are so grateful to Carrie Tucker, The Life Breath Coach!
Sincerely, Chris Downs (Heart Failure Survivor!)
My Mom’s friend has been having problems breathing for over 2 weeks now with 85-87% oxygen levels. They ran a blood gas on her and in the mean time had her doing breathing treatments to help open up her chest. Those results came back and they didn’t like the numbers, so they referred her to a pulmonoligist. They are ordered a couple of tests and a chest x-ray an told her to come back in 2 weeks. Her oxygen is still only 87%. Mom and I are concerned that they haven’t put her on oxygen. Is this normal or should she be finding another group of dr’s?
My 74-year-old father fell and broke his arm 21 days ago. He was 100% cognitively intact at that time and was his usual self – especially as he cussed out the EMTs for not getting his pain under control quickly enough! After the surgery my father was acting very strange. I decided to cut off his pain medicine and he was only allowed to have Tylenol. He had no complaints of pain, really, but he was still not himself after several days. I assumed this was all due to delirium. My father drank at least 2-3 beers per day, chewed tobacco, and drank NyQuil nightly as a sleep aid (yes, I know he’s nuts). He also has CHF with only a 15% ejection fraction after a “widower’s heart attack” he suffered five years ago. He’s about 6 feet and skinny as a rail now (used to weigh over 200 pounds and is barely 135 now since the heart attack!).
At any rate, as I said, I felt he was suffering from delirium and we tried to wait it out. When he was sent to the rehab, he seemed to be getting better, but in only a few days he got worse again! He could not recall his favorite grandson’s name, could not tell us how much his monthly checks from SS were for, could not tell us how much money was in his wallet, etc. These are all things my father absolutely knew before. He also kept saying things like, “get out…get out of the kitchen or wind my hands up.” I have no idea what that was all about.
I panicked and wanted him to get a CT or MRI of the brain, but instead the doctor asked if he could run some tests first. I approved. He checked him for a UTI, which came back positive. The rest of his blood work wasn’t too bad. However, his nurse called me this morning to inform me that he is refusing to take his antibiotic, AND he REFUSES to wear his oxygen! She puts it on and comes back later, it’s off again!
She told me his O2 sats were 71!!! I am now wondering – could my father be suffering brain damage from lack of proper oxygen to his brain? Do you think this will be permanent since it could be days and days of having low sats and not wearing the oxygen? Do you have any suggestions that will help keep the oxygen on him?
I apologize for the length of this – I felt the information above may be pertinent. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Aloha JustMe,
I’d suggest that you have him evaluated for a possible stroke.
Low oxygen is definitely a problem. It causes damage when his level is so low, but you can only do what you can do.
If you can get him up and active with oxygen that will help, and if you can supplement his sleep with oxygen that will go a long way to help.
You might experiment with blow by oxygen if he isn’t too restless at night.
Caregiving ain’t for sissies! Good luck, let me know if there is anymore I can do to help.
Many blessings,
Carrie
My older brother had a lung removed May, 2011. After the removal he can not carry on a conversation due to “panting”, just can’t seem to get a good breath. The doctors don’t have a clue whats wrong, they say he should be breathing good by now.
Any suggestions?
Aloha Eddie,
Carbon dioxide provides the drive to breathe for your brain. The thing to do is work on better CO2 management. The Breathing Hand Book will be available for sale within the next week. Please stay tuned for its release. I hope it helps your brother!
Many blessings,
Carrie
Hello Carrie.
I was diagnosed about a year ago with severe sleep apnea with hypotension. I was also told that I have low blood oxygen levels. I have a copy of my result sheet from my in home sleep study. It states that the lowest spo2 (> 2 sec) (%) was 47. Also. My sleep apnea index per hour was 74.9. Is this bad? And what does it mean?
Aloha Don,
Yes, very bad.
You’ll want sleep apnea equipment and a better understanding of breathing.
You’ll get that on the Challenge. Stay tuned for The Breathing Hand Book. It will be available soon.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Aloha April,
Yes, you should be concerned. Check your inbox for my message.
I have a heart to advocate for children, so I’m offering you a complimentary strategy session.
Many blessings,
Carrie
I was advised today that I have low oxygen levels n my blood and inflammation. I also have been diagnosed with Systematic Lupuis and for the last 7 or so months have been experiencing a lot of pain. I have had an episode of Pleurysis and that was said to be related to my Lupus as well, I am also 8 months pregnant. I am concerned mainly because it seems as if my health is getting worse & worse. I do not smoke (never have) overall, I take good care of myself. Should I be worried? I’m scared to go to sleep because the fact of low oxygen levels is scary in itself.
for the past 2 years i had a chronic sinus infection. We did 5 sinus surgeries with out a positive outcome. Then I did a sleep study because of new symptoms of passing out at work, and being consistently tired, headaches. Come to find out i have very severe central sleep apnea and severe Obstructive apnea.
They put me on O2 until they got the CPAP machine running, but i feel a billion times better on the O2 so they perscribed t 24/7. My pulse ox doesn’t slip. but when i am not on the O2 (forget to put it on) i get more tire and more tired…and start to black out. eventually i just fall asleep.
the drs are stumped. any ideas?
Aloha Sean,
Do you breathe through your nose when you are on oxygen?
That could improve your situation all by itself.
If you’d like to learn how to Breath Better and relieve your sinus issue, join the Increase Your Oxygen Challenge!
Be well,
Carrie
I have IPF for which there is no good outcome. I am at the stage where o2 drops from mid 90s to low 80s while using liquid o2 set at 6L flow when I walk a block or two on the level. I love golf and have been playing with a cart and an o2 tube hung from my nose. I watch tho o2 flow and when it gets to the low 80s I stop to rest and get it back to the 90s.Yesterday I decided tht the time has come to quit golfing. By the 7th hole o2 was falling to mid 60s and I was having trouble getting it back up. I want to keep as active as possible but I think that the 60s may cause me more problems than I need. … though with what pulmonary fibrosis has ahead for me a fatal heart attack might be a reasonable alternative. However, POSITIVE MIND SET, keep active and live the life I have ahead to the fullest. that’s me !!!
LOL,I’m a stubborn old gal.I’m dying,but i’m not letting it get the best of me,when I need to slow down I do,but i have a habit of getting very happy at going places & getting the heck outta dodge(so to speak).I enjoy seeing other towns or areas,i get bored with the same old thing day in day out…….
Sometimes my 02 gets down to 80,77. I don’t panic I shut up & breath……….
Aloha Lynne,
Panic certainly won’t help you.
Make sure when you “shut up and breath” that you are utilizing SLOW exhale.
“The Breathing HandBook” will soon be available from Heart Failure Solutions.
You can OVER breathe and REDUCE your oxygen!
Good on you for getting out there and living life!!
Enjoy!
Many blessings,
Carrie
Aloha Lynne,
I can tell that you don’t know the meaning of the word “inconvenient”! You sound like you live life to the fullest. Nothing can hold you back because you don’t allow it! That is inspiring! I think I’ll follow your lead and eliminate the word from my vocab as well!
Many blessings,
Carrie
I have no inconveniences where COPD is concerned,though some people feel that way…
I have been on 02 for 4 years.It does not stop me from going & doing things,& I don’t have nything straped to my back.Bwsides If people don’t like me on 02 they can go elsewhere,lol.It keeps me going.I’m in a wheelchair now,use a portable tank straped to the chair.Having a posititive attitude helps greatly.I go to walmart & zip around in thier elec carts.Life is for the living & I’m still alive with COPD!!!!
Aloha Lynn!
More power to ya! The only way to hang on to your quality of life is to value it enough to inconvenience yourself when you need to.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Had trouble with my golf game was getting really tired, sweating with some mental confusion. I am 63 year old male. I went to the Dr and they said I have low o2, walking test showed 88 in the office and they immediately had o2 delivered to my home. I cannot golf or do other activities with the o2. what do I do? This is very depressing to me. Can I exercise without the o2. I am not going to walk around with a machine strapped to my back. any advice you can offer would be welcome.
Aloha Jim,
If you’d like to work on changing your blood chemistry, join The Increase Your Oxygen Challenge. Better Breathing is possible but takes consistent practice to bring about change.
If you are unwilling to meet your needs in the mean time, you will find yourself on a slippery slope of degeneration. Nobody can make that decision but you, but the unwillingness to meet your needs will cause drastic consequences.
Be well,
Carrie
I was ordered to have a sleep study from my neurologist. He was concerned about the opiates (morphine) he had been given me for years. I have severe peripheral neuropathy. We decided to try another pill to get continual pain relief and keep the the same amount throughout the day and night. WELL, my sleep study gave results around 50%. Of course he ordered a concentrator 2% at night. That brought it up in the 90% area. We bought a simple finger tester just to check for ourselves. Same results. Currently during the day it is around 50%. After reading some of these stories, scares me. The thought of using the concentrator 24/7 machine really does not make me feel that great.
Warm regards
Tim
Aloha Tim,
It sounds like you need to show up to the discussion each week!
We discuss Breath Awareness and the importance of oxygen each week. When you convince yourself that you have enough reasons to create change, you make it happen. Revisiting the conversation is the best way to keep yourself learning and applying. Your only other alternative is to drug your symptoms some more, and you’ve already experienced the harsh consequences of that.
Be well,
Carrie
PS- Become a member of The Increase Your Oxygen Challenge!
I have COPD and recently my breathing has worsened. I went to my dr and got steroids and zpac, took both, but I am not getting better. I am on oxygen and I notice my oxygen levels are in the 80s for the first time they have always been in the low 90s. The thing that makes me angry is I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO QUIT SMOKING AFTER ABOUT 10 TRIES. About a month after I quit smoking, my levels went up to 94 and 95 and I was thrilled. I am devastated that 4 months later I am probably worse than I have ever been.
Aloha Marcia,
Please check your inbox for a personal message from me.
Let me know if you’d like to take advantage of my offer.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Dear Carrie,
I am a nurse and have been one for awhile. I was misdiagnosed with PAC s by one cardiologist and sfter two months i had gained 40 lbs though food intake was unchanged..I asked the treating cardio to see me for pain and swelling..he refused.. after seeking help elsewhere, I was hospitalized with rt heart failure and several other things–sleep apnea, HTN, chronic edema, etc. I was refused oxygen by the diagnosing cardio cod.. my family doc overroad him and put me on O2 prn.. my sats under activity dip down to 92 and 91..is the O2 dangerous barring no other problem like COPD which I do not have??
sincerely,
adam
Aloha Adam,
Yes the low oxygen levels have the potential to spontaneously stop your heart.
Oxygen dis-associates from hemoglobin when blood oxygen levels fall below 92%. It’s a matter of gas laws. Oxygen is the key to improving your health!
I strongly recommend the e-book “The One Minute Miracle” for quickly and easily increasing your oxygen. The next step to take is improving your breathing. The best way to do that is to spend time daily focused on breath awareness and your slow exhale. I offer a weekly support group for “Increasing Your Oxygen”. Do everything you can to address your oxygen needs, and watch your health be transformed!
Be well!
Carrie
PS- Your story makes me sad. Even as a nurse you could not get the care you need. Unfortunately, I often hear stories like yours. Get the care you need what ever it takes! Make a lot of noise! I’ve been hired just to advocate for folks who could not get the care their insurance companies were willing to pay for because their doctor would not cooperate. I’m good at making a lot of noise
but when you are sick you may need an advocate. Let me know if you need help!
Hi Carrie,
I’m an 84 yo man with chronic lung and heart disease a touch of diabeties and now discovered I have a lymphoma mass about the size of a softball between my heart and lung. I was told to go on EPOCH chemotherapy, however, I hear its going to screw up my immune system, blood sugar and just about everything else.
Any thoughts.
Aloha Angelo,
I have many suggestions, but I wouldn’t put them in a comment reply. That could be dangerous!
However, I’d like to offer you a one year membership to “The Increase Your Oxygen Challenge’.
The Challenge is a one hour call each Saturday and the recording will be kept available to you. The Membership costs $17/month, so my offer is worth $204! I hope you take me up on my offer!
Many blessings,
Carrie
Hello Carrie,
So happy to have found your site! I am 39 years old, smoked (past tense) for 15 years, have asthma and high blood pressure – both of which I am currently treated for. After 2 sleep studies for insomnia, I have been diagnosed with delayed sleep phase chronobiology, comorbid insomnia, NO REM sleep and hypoxemia of indeterminate etiology. No sleep apnea or obstructive breathing issues. My blood oxygen levels are between 94-99 during the day, but drop into the 80′s while I sleep… I am now on oxygen at night and need further testing determine the cause. However, both my sleep doc & my PCP are not sure where to go from here. Suggestions? Any idea what could be causing the drop ONLY at night? Your advice is greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Kim
Aloha Kim,
Your sleep lab work up was not helpful. I’d love to offer a program to help folks around sleep. Perhaps I’ll do that program next, once I get the Increase Your Oxygen Challenge up and running I’ll give attention to that.
Specific discussion around your condition is only appropriate once I have reviewed your history, diet and evaluated your efforts to be active to ensure that you are building strength rather than depleting yourself. I offer Evaluation and Coaching so please do let me know if you’d like to explore how I can help you. Increasing your oxygen will help all of the above. Addressing bad breathing habits will go a long way to help as well.
Refining The Increase Your Oxygen Challenge has been a long process, please excuse our growing pains.
Stay tuned for the upcoming Increase Your Oxygen Challenge!
Many blessings,
Carrie
Hi Carrie,
I was recently told I have pulmonary hypertension. I am 46 female with Lupus and high blood pressure.
I have had low o2 for about a yr. but it was only when i went up hills or stairs. Its now off and on all day, mostly all day when im busy. It runs about 81-86. When i sit down it goes back up to 98.
I saw a specialist and had an echo, this is were they told me about having PH, but when i did a 6min walk it was only 94.Im not on o2 and they are not doing a rt. heart cath until the middle of may. They checked out my pulse ox and said it was correct so i know mines right. I also know its right because i get so lightheaded and faint feeling with heaviness in my chest, along with fatique and tiredness. Also, when i get on my treadmill and get going at a good pace my o2 goes up to 97. Its so confusing. Have u ever heard of this when your active, but not at a steady pace it is low, but moving steady and quick it is normal? I know it sounds strange, but thats how it is for me.
please let me know if u have heard this before
thank u and God bless
sha
Aloha Sha,
None of what you describe is unusual. I recommend you get involved in my upcoming Increase Your Oxygen Challenge! It’s a great starting point. I offer more complicated coaching in my more advanced coaching programs.
It’s unclear by your comment, but I hope that you are saying that you use oxygen at home. If not you should be. Supplemental oxygen is the best thing you can do for yourself immediately while you learn and apply techniques to improve your breathing, improve your diet, and monitor your efforts to be active to ensure that you are building strength rather than depleting yourself.
It’s been a long process to refine the Increase Your Oxygen Challenge, please excuse our growing pains.
Stay tuned for news about the upcoming Increase Your Oxygen Challenge!
Many blessings,
Carrie
I would like to participate as a beta tester. My blood oxygen level is anywhere between 85-96 while I am resting and has gone down to as low as 58 when moving “fast” or lifting.
Aloha Nanci,
You spoke up at the perfect time! This will be a very rare opportunity!
I’ll email you soon!
Many blessings,
Carrie
My oxygen level flucuates from 88 to 95. Sometimes when it gets below 92 I use the oxygen, but never know if and when I should be using it. I have had every test for my heart and lungs but all is o.k. I do have diabetes, hypertension, GERD, asthma and many other things. While sleeping I use the oxygen because my oxygen levels go low. 15 minutes ago it was 92, 10 minutes ago it was 95, now it is 93. Hard to know what or when to start it. Just had bronchitis and the doctor told me to use it continually for a few days.
Please, can you give me some advice?
Frieda
Aloha Frieda,
Breathing work and continuous oxygen would be my advice.
Let me know if you’d like some support with that advice.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Hi Carrie Like the help you give in this site. I have apnea, diabetis, acis reflex, high blood preasure, depresion, morvid obese, etc. Since may this year I have gone 3 times to the emergency room, the first time I stayed 5 days the other 2 a few hours. Finally I have a oxigen machine at home. The last time I went to the emergency room my oxigen level was 74. I need you to recommend me a small, not very expensive portable concentrator oxigen machine. The cheapest one runs around $500.00 up to $5,000.00. Last sunday I went out and when I came home my levels were 77 and they wouldn’t go over 90 all night. That.s why I need a machine for when I go out, I won’t be gasping for air, feel like I’m going to faint..and scare myself and all my family. I’m 63 years old. Thanks so much for the attention you will give to my problem.
Aloha Carmen,
You really do need to use portable oxygen. If your insurance company is paying for your home oxygen, then they should be willing to pay for a portable unit as well. Insist that this dangerous issue be addressed with your doctor. Otherwise, I don’t have a preference as long as they meet your needs.
Remember …. below 92% is VERY dangerous. You should be using oxygen continuously!! I can’t stress that enough! Want to reverse your oxygen need? The only way to do it is to use supplemental oxygen like the valuable tool it is. Prevent ALL occurence of dangerous oxygen levels. Exercise With Oxygen Therapy is helpful as well. You MUST start there.
If you are doing all that, then go grab The Breathing Kit and apply the techniques you learn daily. Click on the link -> http://HeartFailureSolutions.com/lifebreath and navigate to the sites store, where you want “The Breathing Kit”. Your lung volume can be natural and expansive if you work at it!
Let me know if I can help.
Many blessings,
Carrie
hello carrie, please help me. i visited various doctors for various pulmonary tests. the one i am always puzzled with is the low blood oxygen levels. po2 starting @ 98% but rapidly drops during exercise (eg. walking on tread mill for less than 2 minute will result in po2 89% and the tech always stop the test and call for a doctor). i was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease( tlc 52%, dlco 30% fev 52%, fvc51%, fev/fvc ratio 99%), emphysema and hypoxia. breathing has become very difficult and the doctors are not giving any assistance. i want to purchase a portable O2 machine. do you think this is a good idea. thanks
Aloha Devika,
Sorry it took me some time to answer your comments.
Get that oxygen machine no matter what it takes!
You can find them here as well, remember … http://HeartFailureSolutions.com/lifebreath
They sell oxygen generators at that site which do NOT require a prescription.
You are worth it!
Many blessings,
Carrie
she is 16 months old and weighing 7 kgs. She had fever for 2 months and was taken to several doctors in Cairo, but unfortunately no one knew the exact reason.
One of the doctors had an echo on her heart and discovered that she had fluid around her heart; they recommended to drain the fluid out so the heart can function properly. Prior to taking the fluid out she had heart arrest 3 times, but only for a very short time (according to the doctors words). CPR has been used to make the heart beat again, on 3 occasions.
Now she is in coma, her heart rate beat is good, her oxygen taking is also good, the lungs are clear from infection. There was some difficulties with the kidneys and liver, but are now functioning well.
The problem that they are facing now is she is in coma and cannot react, only sometimes she opens her eyes. She is taking medicine to improve the heart beat and is on minimal oxygen ventalation.
They put a canola from her neck, but due to body weakness and difficulty in finding the veins, they keep changing the place; as a result there is a lot of holes on her body. Can you suggest another method other than surgical canola? remember they are in Egypt.
CT Scan on the brain has not been done yet. She is at the moment in Abu Rish El Yabani hospital for children in Cairo. She is now shaking and taking medicine for this.
Aloha Adel,
My heart goes out to you and your family.
It sounds like they really are doing all they can. I know it must be hard to watch her being poked again and again, but this is really all they can do short of a central line, and that is yet another hole.
She has been through a lot. If the doctors are not telling you that she has experienced brain damage yet, then you can hold onto hope.
I’ll be praying for her and you as well.
Be good to yourself, and stay strong.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Aloha Olga,
I sent you an email the same day as your last comment, but haven’t heard back.
I hope your husband is doing well.
The best thing you can do to relieve his suffering is to go to the following link and get him a Breathing Kit. -> http://HeartFailureSolutions.com/lifebreath
It will do you a lot of good as well, and I’m sure he could use the support.
Optimize your breathing and you WILL feel better
Well, I don’t know when you’re gonna read this but, I changed my husband’s appt with the pulmonologist from Friday to today (Wednesday) and guess what he said?? He diagnosed him with ‘propioception’…!Heck, might as well call him a hypochondriac! He told him there was nothing wrong with him and that he wasn’t exercising enough!! I was so mad when my husband told me I wanted to jump that doctor! My husband does personal training three days a week for one hour and every day he goes for cardio! Isn’t That enough??? HE CAN’T BREATH dammit! I wanna sue somebody. sorry…i’m venting.
My husband,50,suffers from sleep apnea. He has been using a CPAP machine for several years. He never misses an appointment or the upgrades for the CPAP, takes all his medications as directed by the doctor, drinks plenty of fluids (at least 1.5gals/day),makes very healthy eating choices (lots of fruits/vegs/fish/chicken/legumes),excersise daily,does not drink and does not smoke. He was recently diagnosed with hypoxemia and sent to a pulmonary specialist who is still running tests on him. In the meantime he put him on a new “more powerful” inhaler, whcih does not seem to be doing anything to help. My husband’s shortness of breath seems to be getting worse. He is constantly ‘fighting’ to take a deep breath in, sometimes it wakes him in the middle of the night and is making him exhausted through the day. He has yet another appointmet this Friday but I cant wait to ask somebody what could possibly be causing this. He’s had heart checkups with a cardiologist and numerous other tests both blood tests and chest xrays and nothing shows up out of the ordinary….Is there any test in particular he should be having that could possibly shed some light on his problems? Lung scan or MRI/MRA? Heart or blood tests? Allergies?? Could medication be causing more stress on his lungs? He uses inhalers, takes lipitor, allegra, nasal steroids and cialis (he suffers from ED). I sometimes worry more about the cialis than other medications.
Any information will be greatly appreciated. Olga
I have a tracheal stent…70mm x 18mm. My trachea was always collapsing. My question is that this morning my o2 rate was 79 and heart rate was 83. Tried to call my insurance nurse but closed on Sunday. I am on Albuteral, Pulmozyme Sol, and a Machine to clean my stent… did all these and went back to machine and the measurement was 79. What should I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Melanie Ft. Mohave, AZ
Aloha Melanie,
Great chatting with you yesterday Melanie. I hope to hear you on tonight’s Healthy Solutions Chat!
Remember, until you secure home oxygen, you will NOT feel better!
Be well!
Carrie
my daughter is a severe asthmatic (even on 3 different controller meds, she still needs rescue meds almost once every day, often more than once a day) She USED to keep her O2 levels in the high 90′s or 100%, though she DOES desat down into the 70′s (an albuterol nebulizer treatment will bring her O2 levels back up) Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that my “spot checks” of her O2 shows that her O2 levels are lower, still not “scary low” but consistently between 95 and 96% with occasional higher readings, and the occasional scary low readings.
We are vacationing in Florida this week, and I’ve been diligent in making sure she gets nebs when they are needed (her lungs don’t like humidity…however, this was when the trip HAD to happen) Today, she was cranky, excessively fatigued and whiny. She told me she needed a treatment, so I gave her one. 20 minutes after the treatment, her O2 was still at 93%. Do you have any ideas on what could be causing her sats to be consistently lower. (I’m not positive that “asthma” is the correct diagnosis…however we’ve had the genetics run for CF, and those were negative…though on paper, she looks an awful lot like a CFer.)
I’m not sure she’s ready for supplemental O2, but at what point should I be “ER concerned”? Thanks in advance.
Sara
Aloha Sara,
Sounds like your daughter is coping with some severe symptoms. Have you ever done an elimination diet to find out if she is sensitive to any foods that she eats? In fact, is there one food that she wants to eat all the time? If so, that is probably the problematic food, and might not be as much an issue if you eliminate it and then try rotating it back in, being careful to get a wide variety of foods.
There are many ideas that may be effective in reducing inflammation to address her symptoms.
As far as the point at which you should be “ER concerned”, my advice is to focus on her work of breathing and the color of her lips. Everyone who cares for her should be aware of what the signs of respiratory distress look like. An Asthma attack is something that can quickly become life threatening, so better safe than sorry!
Let me know if you are interested in further coaching around your daughters care. You can grab a spot on my schedule here -> http://tungle.me/CarrieTucker
Many blessings,
Carrie
I take it sleep apnea makes things even worse in a situation like this?
Paul´s last [type] ..Sleep Apnea and Testosterone
Aloha Paul,
I tried to contact you, but your email address says it is undeliverable.
I love the product on your site! I’ll be writing a post soon to send folks there.
I wanted to discuss the possibility of working together. Sleep apnea doesn’t get the attention it deserves. You know as well as I do, that time is of the essence for people living with this life threatening condition. I’d love to work with you to spread the word!
Get a hold Paul! I’d love to discuss the possibilities with you!
Many blessings,
Carrie
My little girl had her first grand mal seizure when she was 18 months old. She had a cold and a fever of 101. She had just woken up from her nap. It lasted 50 minutes and was stopped with drugs at the ER. The Drs. said it was febrile. Six months later, she had another one, 35 minutes long. She was not sick, however, we had had a big day at the lake. She started to seize 5 minutes after we got home. She had just woken up from a nap in the car. This one lasted 35 minutes. About seven months later, she was sick, I took her to the Dr. and she had ear infections and a cold. At the Dr.s, her oxygen level was 87%. I made the comment of how low it was. The nurse said that was common when kids are sick. We got home 20 minutes later, I took her O2 reading (I bought a Oximeter for the house) and it was 83%. Less than a minute later, she was seizing. She a fever of 99. This one lasted 50 mins…they stopped it in the ER again. I asked the Dr. if low oxygen levels could be triggering these seizures. He didn’t think so. Since then, when she is tired or sick and worn out, she gets lithargic. I check her O2 and most of the time it is in the mid 80′s, I get oxygen on her and she bounces back within 30 minutes. This tends to happen when we have a big day and she falls asleep in the car on the way home. She doesn’t wake up right and her O2 is low (80′s) and so is her pulse (50 ish). What can be causing this? I am convinced this drop in oxygen leads to her seizures, even if the Dr’s don’t agree. But why does her O2 drop? Any ideas?
Please sign me up as a beta tester. THANK YOU!
Aloha Mike,
Check your inbox!
Many blessings,
Carrie
Hi – I was diagnosed with mild to moderate apnea 6 years ago and started on CPAP. I have developed metabolic syndrome in the last year (diabetes, HBP, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia); a stress test found two perfusion defects in the heart (no blockage upon catheterization) after I saw a cardiologist for chest pain and dyspnea, and I experienced rhespiratory arrest after minor surgery – 5 hours with several episodes of severe hypotension. I also suffer from severe depression. All this in the last year to year and a half.
I retested for apnea a few weeks ago and was told my starting oxygenation level was 97%, but it dropped to 79% when I finally went into deep sleep, and I was told my apnea is severe. Am going back for another test.
I have lost 30 pounds and need to lose another 20 to have a healthier BMI, but I’m not in bad shape -muscular – and exercise. I’m near 100% compliant with CPAP – may have missed 3 days in 6 years of treatment.
Sometimes this just kills you, doesn’t it? Am I kidding myself that I can survive this much longer? Realistically, what’s my prognosis? I’m not even 45 yet.
Aloha Sean,
I want you to focus on meeting your needs! Your 100% compliance is wonderful! You are doing what you can.
From what you are telling me, I suspect that you may need a BIPAP machine. The difference between that and CPAP is that BIPAP can also breathe for you, not just keep your airway open.
If you stop breathing at night even though your CPAP is keeping your airway open, it is important that you get the right kind of sleep apnea machine to prevent further harm!
Please let me know if I can help.
Many blessings,
Carrie
My husband has a problem with low blood oxygen. He is 82 yrs old. He was told that he has a paralyzed/elevated diaphram on one side plus edema in feet & lower legs. Also, he is weak.
Last night he became disoriented & his blood oxygen measured 77. He takes oxygen via the nose tube, but says he can not tolerate the CPAP.
Normally, his blood oxygen will ride around 88 – 93. His doctor does not seem to be alarmed about his condition.
Question: Should we see another doctor? Would you think his condition serious?
Aloha Ann,
Nose tube oxygen will not prevent sleep apnea or the drop in his oxygen level while he sleeps. You definitely want to check to see if there are low levels while he is walking that need to be addressed.
He should use supplemental oxygen with any activity that causes his oxygen level to drop. Bowel movements are a particularly dangerous time to have low oxygen levels.
There are many choices of masks to use with CPAP including one that is nasal. I encourage you to work at finding a CPAP set up that he can tolerate.
Also if he needs more oxygen than he is getting, he is deteriorating every time his oxygen level drops.
I do offer one on one coaching over the phone. Breathing exercises are the secret to improving his oxygenation though there is no getting around meeting his needs with supplemental oxygen.
Leave a comment or check your inbox for an email from me if you’d like to discuss private coaching.
Many blessings,
Carrie
I have high blood pressure, and it is the highest upon waking, 170 to 180 over 100.
after being awake, eating and showering it usually decreases to normal levels.
My blood oxygen is 92 when resting, 88 or so when active. My doctor prescribed blood pressure medication to take upon waking, which lowers the pressure considerably.
I am concerned that my blood oxygen is decreasing while sleeping, and I wake up after 5 to 6 hours sleep with the high pressure readings. What else should my doctor and myself be looking at, or is there anything I can do on my own.
Aloha P. Bramblett,
You should definitely be concerned about your oxygen level while you sleep! Have a sleep study done immediately!
If you find that you have Sleep Apnea …. Sleep Apnea equipment can save your life …
IF YOU USE IT!
Now as far as your low blood oxygen levels during the day …. I’m a bit confused as to what you are asking. Did you read the article above? The low oxygen levels that you are living with daily are deteriorating your mind and body, and have the potential to KILL you! If you need oxygen to keep your oxygen level from falling below 92% at ALL times … and you don’t use oxygen to prevent that low oxygen level … you are harming yourself.
You and your doctor know enough right now to prevent further harm while you explore your options. Are you using portable oxygen?
I am working on a program that will teach powerful oxygenating techniques that really can address many issues. It isn’t available yet, but you can become a beta tester by replying to this comment below. I will also email you that offer.
Anymore beta testers want in on this rare opportunity to experience powerful oxygenation? Leave a comment and I will contact you!
Do you want to start out one on one? Click the call me button in the right side bar for private coaching. It will take you to my answering service who will connect us.
Shy? Go ahead and click on the “How Good Is Your Breathing” button in the right side bar. Get yourself a home study course that will teach you to use your breath for great healing. Better breathing is where all healing begins.
Don’t forget that this blog is a great resource for tips that WILL make a big difference in your daily life. Stick around Heart Failure Solutions and read read read.
Be well!
Many blessings,
Carrie
I had a sleep study done recently. The doctor just called and said, I don’t need a C-papp machine, but that my oxygen level drops to 79 when I’m sleeping. Is this a big deal?
Aloha Christine,
I’m not sure why your doctor says you don’t need CPAP unless they experimented with oxygen during your sleep study.
If you read this article you know that 79% oxygen saturation can kill you, and will most definitely cause your health to deteriorate!
Get the help you need! Don’t ignore your issues, get a second opinion, and a third if that is what it takes to get your needs met!
Many blessings,
Carrie
PS- I offer one on one coaching, schedule an appointment with me at the link below
One on one coaching
Hi, I’ve been dealing with shortness of breath for months now. All I have to do is walk across the room and back and I start panting.
On Jan 31st my chest felt tight all morning, no pain just tight like pressure on my upper left chest area. I was later rushed to the emergency room and admitted. They performed all the cardiac test, treadmill, echo cardiogram, blood gas etc over the next two days. They determined that my heart was good but a CT scan of my lungs found three small nodules that appeared benign.
I’ve never smoked. Then one night they removed my oxygen for ten minutes and drew artery blood. It showed my blood oxygen level at 66. They have referrred me to a lung specialist later next week. The only way I could leave the hospital without oxygen was to walk down the hall and back while the o2 clip was monitoring my o2 and it stayed above 93. Due to breathing hard during walk my 02 stayed at 94, so I went home.
It seems that the finger slip monitor always shows the o2 level 94 to 96, so why does the blood test show 66? Are the clip monitors more accurate than the blood test?
Any ideas as to what my problem is or questions to ask lung doctor would be appreciated. I also should mention that I had pneumonia at age 8, now age 52.
Gary Chrismon
Aloha Gary,
First lets clear up your confusion over your oxygen level.
Your PO2 is 66. That is different than what an oximeter (clip monitor) is showing you. Oximeters are measuring SaO2. That number indicates what percentage your cells are saturated with oxygen.
So in other words they are not the same thing, and those numbers are appropriate.
You say that while you walk your oxygen level stays 94-96%, though walking causes you to “breathe hard”. It is hard to tell what is going on without assessing you personally and getting your history, but it sounds like your carbon dioxide level may be what causes your shortness of breath. Your body can take on enough oxygen, but has a hard time eliminating the waste product carbon dioxide.
There are many things you can do to decrease the inflammation in your airways so that you can move better air.
Read here:
If you wheeze do you have asthma?
Why is sleep so important?
Please stay in touch and let me know how I can help.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Aloha Kim,
Don’t mean to alarm you Kim but you may very well be dealing with Heart Failure. Your story is typical. Heart Failure is often misdiagnosed as asthma.
Make sure your oxygen level is safe at all times and hop over to the Breathing Guy’s site for a Breathing Kit. Consistently apply what he teaches and everything will change for you.
You can find the breathing kit as well as oxygen generators here -> Breathing Guy
Many blessings,
Carrie
Healthy Solutions Chat is no longer a free weekly tele-seminar.
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This summer I was diagosed with Sleep APNEA. I am on a the the machine. 2 weeks ago I came down with a cold and a cough…..COuld not get rid of the cough. I went into the hospital on Friday and they kept me over night because my oxygen levels were low….I am about 65 pounds over weight and the doctor thing I have asma… I have an appointment in 1 1/2 weeks to see the doctor again. What can I do to help with the oxygen level till then. & How do I get rid of these cough. Is it related to the oxygen level.
My partner has been recently diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). For years I have been asking him to have sleep apnea diagnostic tests, because with it came many sleepless nights of unimaginable snoring! I also asked him to discuss it with his Primary Care Physician (PCP), but he informed me it was his business (medical). I informed him, after this recent diagnosis that it is integral that he follows the MD’s treatment plan or that’s it. I don’t want to wake up next to a corpse! Please pray with me. His O2 saturation level fell at 70%-71% twice during the study and I don’t think he’s alarmed about the fact that he is at risk for stroke, heart failure, or sudden death. He has a very disturbing “I don’t really care” approach. HELP!
Joey
Aloha Joey,
My heart goes out to you. It is painful to care about someone more than they care about themselves.
Death is a Valid Choice!
But then again, so is leaving so that you can nurture yourself. You will make yourself sick if you worry about someone who does not worry about themselves. Dare I say that your loved one is not caring about you either if they will allow you to leave the relationship over your concern. I have seen care giving spouses choose to leave over smoking as well. It is just really hard to watch someone you love kill themselves.
Others have come to a place where they accept that everyone has to die sometime and their partner is making their own choice. If you can go on with your life, this is an option. Just don’t ignore major stress if you are living with it. Hey, you can handle it or you can’t.
I don’t know the severity of your partners sleep apnea, but I have found that increasing the flow of nasal oxygen can also go a long way to maintain airway integrity in people who just won’t use the sleep apnea equipment. Your partner may want to discuss this with his doctor. You’ve got to care enough to seek out options or you are accepting death.
Be blunt for his sake, and then do what is best for yours.
Many blessings,
Carrie
I have pulmonary Fibrosis. I have had it for 61/2 years.
It is getting to the point now with the least little bit of exercise my oxygen drops to the low eighty’s . When I rest My oxygen levels go back up to 90 or 97. When I get up to do something It starts over again. My pulse is in the eighties during the low oxygen levels at rest my pulse levels fall to 50 or 60′s . I have a appointment with my pulmonary specialist for November. I wonder if I should contact her before .
Thank you Faye Sallmann
Aloha Faye,
Please contact your doctor as soon as possible, or better yet, go to the Emergency Room.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t need oxygen! It may be hard to hear, but you should be on oxygen 24 hours a day. The only time you should take a break from using oxygen is when you are seated comfortably.
Put the oxygen back on BEFORE you move!
You may very well have low oxygen levels while you sleep. Better to be safe than sorry! Low oxygen levels will weaken your heart muscle and can cause sudden death! Read this post again, and all the others in the oxygen category!
You need to convince yourself, and then your health care provider if necessary! You NEED oxygen!
Please let me know if I can help you in anyway!
Please please take care of yourself!
God Bless,
Carrie
Of course, as most people have, I have long been aware of the importance of oxygen in our biological processes. But very recently, I have been made even more aware of the critical nature of blood oxygen levels. My little brother went in the hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, about a month ago presently lower right quadrant abdominal pain. Botched exploratory surgery and faulty post- operative care led us siblings to transfer Danny to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He had ARDS, was septic from severe peritonitis, and had acute kidney failure, while in Mercy Allegent Hospital in Council Bluffs. Luckily, we transferred him just in time to give him a fighting chance. He had been on a ventilator for nearly four weeks, now. So he is in a position where oxygen saturation is a critical issue. He has had numerous incidents of rapid blood pressure drop and bradycardia. He has, in fact, suffered complete cardiac arrest several times. Atropine and chest compressions have rescussitated him successfully, each time. They implemented a temporary pacemaker for some time, and them withdrew it when he seemed to be past that cardio-event period. But lo-and-behold, he had another incident of bradycardia one week ago, and as recently as yesterday suffered another full cardiac arrest.
Everyone, including cardiology, is sort of scratching their heads over this rather puzzling situation. They have tentatively attributed the condition to neurocardiogenic syncope. As you know, this is the vaso-vagal syndrome, which you mention above. My brother’s particular episodes seem to be directly related to his SpO2 levels, reinforcing the premise of your article above. Of course, the high pressures involved in the use of the ventilator’s relatively high settings(peep is 14, and peak pressure 46-47)play a large part in creating conditions aggravating the vagal nerve sensitivity, but a low oxygen concentration in his blood always accompanies, and may even be the prime trigger for, his cardiac arrests.
Dear Bobby,
Oh dear Lord! Your story makes my heart ache! Oh yes your brother is certainly still in big trouble. The high peep is extreme effort to keep his oxygen level up, but when he dislodges a major plug of mucous it is going to cause havoc.
Thank God you have him in a place he is getting good care, but he still has so far to go.
Please, please keep us updated! We will be praying for him!
God bless and keep you, your brother, and your family!
Stay strong!
Carrie
I have just been diagnosed with low blood oxygen levels. i was put in hospital night for observation. sent for ct scans… returning to hospital my sats were re-tested.they were low. ten minutes later i was sent home with no further treatment. whats going on
Aloha Jason,
It is SO sad to hear stories like yours. I hear them all the time. As a matter of fact, it is this exact issue that drove me to build this blog.
Low oxygen levels are basic emergency medicine, but there seem to be a whole lot of misinformed health care workers out there.
I am praying that you find a decent doctor who will treat you appropriately. Please be aware that you can buy an oxygen generator without a doctor’s order. A concentrator does require a prescription, and would be best, but you need oxygen and should get it anyway you can!
Eat whole foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Drinking water to stay hydrated is important, and olive oil can help provide fatty acids (aids in elasticity of the lungs).
It is very important that you do some sort of relaxation exercises, breathe deeply 30-40 times per day, and be as active as possible taking care to insure that your oxygen level stays above 92% at all times.
Sunshine and laughter are helpful as well, but like you said, “what’s going on”? You surely can’t build health if your oxygen level is low!
Praying that you get the care you need!
Many blessings,
Carrie
PS- Optimize your breathing and everything will change. The Breathing Guy can show you how. Go to his site and look for a Breathing Kit -> Breathing Guy
Hi! Maybe you can help? My doctor said my heart isn’t getting enough oxygen, could my asthma have anything to do with it or is it a blockage. I couldn’t get a good answer from them.
Aloha Pat,
I hope I can help you with my reply.
Your asthma may become an issue when you have an asthma attack. If your lungs are unable to do your job 24/7, that is more than asthma. That is chronic lung disease, or COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
If this is the reason you are not getting enough oxygen, it is because your lungs are not functioning well. What you can do to help is:
1. Keep your lungs as clear as possible, this may require taking breathing treatments with medication or just saline, or a combination of the two. You may also need herbs or oral medication to help.
2. Sip water all day everyday.
3. Use supplemental oxygen if your blood oxygen level is below 92% saturation at anytime. Every occurrence of low blood oxygen level is very harmful and will rob your short-term-memory, your eye sight, and your strength!
4. There are changes you can make in your diet that would be very helpful. You can find books on the subject, and I offer coaching to help you make healthy changes.
If your oxygen level is low because of a tired heart muscle (heart failure), then you need to:
1. Follow the tips above to insure that your lungs are functioning optimally.
2. Pay special attention to your blood oxygen level because every occurrence will cause your heart to weaken further. That means use it 24/7 if that’s what it takes. My coaching can help to convince you of the need to use supplemental oxygen. If your heart is weak, it will not gain strength unless you meet your oxygen needs.
3. Get WELL OXYGENATED activity everyday. (don’t over do it, slow and steady wins the race) Make sure that you use enough oxygen to keep your blood oxygen saturation in the high 90′s while you are active.
4. There are changes you can make in your diet that can help whether the problem is related to your heart or lungs. I offer coaching to help you make healthy changes.
When you understand what is going on with your disease process you can make better decisions about your care. You can schedule with me for coaching at 888-693-8437 ext. 03568195.
Be well!
Many blessings,
Carrie
Heart Failure Solutions
Can food allergies affect levels of oxygen in the blood. Specifically egg white or egg yolk?
Thank you.
Aloha Melinda
Food allergies can cause water retention and that can certainly add to issues with oxygenation. The foods that cause it depend on which ones you are allergic or sensitive to.
Remember that the issue with oxygen happens when your heart gets too tired and can’t pump effectively so it backs up into the lungs.
Another way you can have low oxygen related to food allergies would be anaphylactic shock. If you are hyper-sensitive you may be unable to breathe due to constriction of the throat and airways with anaphylactic shock triggered by food allergies.
Not sure if I am understanding your question. If you need more personal help, you can schedule with me at 1-888-693-8437 ext. 03568195.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Hi Susy,
Welcome. You bring up some good points.
1. If your doctor puts you on steroids, no matter what the dose is, you should wean off slowly. If it gets difficult to breathe when you are weaning the steroids, then wean more slowly.
2. When you have sudden onset of shortness of breath, the worst thing you can do is panic. Stay calm. Practice relaxing daily so that you will have the ability to calm yourself when you need to.
Genetically modified foods are only one of the many burdens your body is forced to deal with. Just look at health building habits as building blocks, and disease building habits as pebbles thrown at a window. You need to build your wall of health strong and sturdy before your health draining habits collectively break your window.
Be well, hope you will be back frequently. We have so much to talk about.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Allergy, Stress, Anxiety, Asthma could be strong triggers for low oxygen levels in the Haemoglobin in the blood.
Be aware of allergic reactions specifically in medications such Ibuprofen or aspirin known as non-steroids drugs.
Also control the intake of steroids for asthma treatment as if you take it in large quantities and you suddenly stopped it can creates an adverse reaction in your immune system and this can be very dangerous because it develops a type of strong allergy reaction. You become red and your body itches everywhere. Your face starts to swell hugely and levels of oxygen in the blood decrease amazingly.
So be careful in the amount of steroids you put into your system.
If you have an allergic reaction try to relax and not panic. If you panic you become worse!.
If you are middle aged and grew up by eating natural foods without any genetically modified ingredientes there is a risk that if you suddenly get into this type of food to develop Allergy. Any food no natural food additive, colour, known as ENumbers. I am talking for my own experience.