What Does Low Oxygen Level Feel Like?
November 3, 2008 by Carrie Tucker
Filed under Asthma, Breath Building, COPD- Lung Disease, Diagnostics, Heart, Oxygen, Relax, Sleep Apnea
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Low oxygen levels rob you of your health and can kill you. Will you feel it if you have a low oxygen level?
Many people who have dangerously low oxygen levels report “feeling just fine” despite their pale color and confusion.
Watch for the following signs:
- water retention (especially feet/ ankles)
- shortness of breath/ difficulty breathing
- extreme fatigue
- chest tightness
- mental confusion/ short-term-memory loss
- tingling fingers
- chronic cough
- blue coloring around lips
- waking at night gasping for breath
Your body requires 92% blood oxygen saturation or above. There is no getting around your oxygen requirement.
If you ignore your low oxygen level you will lose your eye sight, short term memory, and your strength and stamina. The progressive weakening of your heart muscle will contribute to your heart failure.
Whether you feel concerned or not, get to your doctor and have your oxygen levels checked if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
It does NOT matter whether you suffer with low oxygen levels, or you “feel fine” with low oxygen levels, YOUR HEALTH WILL BE LOST!
Your health is worth the inconvenience and the expense of home oxygen therapy!
Use oxygen WHEN you need it, and LIVE WELL!
Exercise With Oxygen can improve your health by improving your ability to hold and carry oxygen in your blood.
- use medical grade oxygen while exercising and notice a difference in your energy level and your measured oxygen saturation.
- 15 minutes a day could change your life
- use caution to assure that your blood oxygen level doesn’t fall below 95% while you are exercising
- use as much supplemental oxygen as you need to keep your oxygen level at 92% or above with sleeping, and all other activity
- consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program
- if the only activity you are capable of, is to walk to the toilet or take a shower, it is very important that you USE OXYGEN to prevent starving your vital organs of oxygen and slowing your rehabilitation
If you are a diagnosed CO2 retainer consult your doctor before increasing your oxygen level for any reason.
During normal daily activity it is best to use the least amount of oxygen possible to keep blood oxygen levels 92% or above at all times.
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Use oxygen if you need it, and do everything else you can to empower YOUR health and well being!
YOU ARE WORTH IT!
Many blessings,
Carrie
PS– Remember everyday:
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Relax and Release tension
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Take deeep breaths
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Be active in a way that adds joy to your life
Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter
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I have been feeling very VERY fatigued for years, yet it wasn’t until yesterday when it was finally figured out. My oxygen level yesterday at my PCP was 83%. He is putting me on oxygen at night. I’m scared. I also have reactive lung disease and overinflated lungs. Which according to my PCP is the first stage of emphysema. And yes I smoke. I’m really scared about the oxygen, but if it will help me feel even just a little better I’m so ready for it then! I just have a lot of things running through my head right now. I know I need to quit smoking, but I’m scared to do that as well. I’m already overweight and I don’t need to gain anymore weight.
Aloha Dottie,
First let me say …..
If you were 83% in your doctors office you NEED oxygen. However it is ABSURD to say that you need it when you sleep! Were you sleeping in your doctors office? You need oxygen WHEN you need it! Which means you need it EVERY time your oxygen saturation level drops below 92% PERIOD!
I hope you are scared enough to nurture yourself. Fear is your best friend right now! If your oxygen level is low, you are deteriorating …. dying!
I am being blunt here because I want to challenge you to care about yourself! If you are ready for a health coach, I am ready to help. Leave your comment here to let me know you are serious and I will meet you where YOU are!
I sincerely hope to hear from you again! Get serious and live!
Many blessings,
Carrie
I have no chest pain or the other symptoms mentioned. I just feel like I have to take deep breathes alot. Like when you have a really good yawn it seems to open up your lungs. I’ve always felt like I need more oxygen. How would I know if my oxygen levels are low? Right now I’m on Hydrogen peroxide therapy. It seemed like when I started that, the “can’t catch my breath” feeling got worse. I thought for sure it would be getting better with the therapy. Although; it’s a dangerous therapy and I have anxieties doing it, could that anxiety be causing my shallow breathing feeling?!
Aloha Susan,
YES! Your anxiety can definitely cause tension, and tension squeezes your lungs.
I’m putting together a report on Increasing Your Oxygen Level From the Inside Out. Be on the look out for its release, I think it will help you.
Who told you Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy was dangerous? How are you using it?
I think a post I wrote recently might be helpful for you. You’ll find it here -> http://www.heartfailuresolutions.com/fitness/is-it-just-stress-chest-pain-isnt-always-serious-is-it
Let me know if I can help.
Many blessings,
Carrie
Thanks for answering. I shouldn’t have said hp therapy is “dangerous”. I meant you have to be really careful with following the instructions carefully. I don’t get chest or arm pain, I just feel like I need to take a deep breath more often than not lately. I will watch out for your report on “increasing oxygen levels from the inside out”. Thank you, Susan
Hi Susan,
Thanks for clarifying. I just want to encourage you to trust yourself.
If you have decided that hp therapy is the right thing for you, then surrender your anxiety.
Go confidently in the direction of your decision. Anxiety causes stress you don’t need!
Many blessings,
Carrie
I am grateful to have found this site.
Several years ago my doctor told me that my blood work showed that I had low oxygen levels. I asked her if that meant that I was anemic and she said no.
I have had another doctor check my heart with a stress test and that came out fine. Then she gave me a breathing treatment which I really didn’t feel any different and gave me a month’s try with an inhaler which I didn’t find any different either.
I have to yawn to get a deep breath. Sometimes this gives me a lot of anxiety. I exercise at the gym and while doing cardio at 80% HR I still have to stop to yawn or open my mouth to take in a breath. I used to snore alot (so says my husband) but he says since I lost some weight I don’t snore anymore.
What do I do now?
Aloha Ann,
Are you on supplemental oxygen? Your insurance wants to see a reading of 88% in order to pay for oxygen. You need to prevent all low oxygen levels below 92%.
Meeting your oxygen needs is the key to feeling better.
Let me know if I can help.
Many blessings,
Carrie
I am overweight. My husband says I snore at night. I yawn all day and take deep breaths. In the last 2 years I had shortness of breath twice. I was tested for a heart attack (stress test). I could not pass the treadmill due to lack of oxygen, so I had to do the one that they inject you with nucular medication and take test my heart. I am 5′ 8″ tall and weigh 230. All my life I have been tired and haven’t been able to exercise alot because I can’t catch my breath. I do feel better when my weight is down, but I still can’t exercise. When I went to my doctor, he also had me sleep with an oxygen monitor on, 6 months later my doctor tells me that my oxygen level when I sleep at night is 77%. I have a doctor appt in August to see a pulmanary specialist. How serious is this? If I loss weight will it help?
Thank you,
Pam
Dear Pam,
You have sleep apnea and it is dire that you use oxygen to prevent those low oxygen levels at the very least as soon as possible!!
If you would like to explore the options I offer for coaching, click on the link and set up an appointment to talk to me.
http://tungle.me/CarrieTucker
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Many blessings,
Carrie
I have been tired and short of breath for 2-3 years and recently had a breathing test and blood oxygen level test which showed my oxygen level to be 61.3. My doctor continues doing tests such as CT scan of my chest, chest x-ray, etc but has done nothing to help my breathing. I continue to get less energy and can barely function. What do you suggest I do???
Aloha Peggy,
You need oxygen. Get it any way you can. Meet your needs and save your life.
Once you are meeting your oxygen needs, I can coach you on how to increase your oxygen from the inside out.
Click on the link and enter your contact information to get an invitation to continue this conversation.
Get an Invitation
Take care of you! Find a doctor who will attend to your needs!
Many blessings,
Carrie
I have not been feeling well for a while now, short of breath, daytime sleepiness, dizzy, headache, not thinking clearly and I didn’t know why until recently. When I went for my sleep study and was told I have severe sleep apnea and that my oxygen level during the sleep study was 77%. I believe that is pretty low and my doctor is saying that I need to go back and do another sleep study to get my cpap set up but, that might take a couple of weeks. She has not said anything about some other type of treatment for my low oxygen level. I am worried .. do you think I should be or should I just set back and try to make it another couple of weeks?
Thank You!
Aloha Jody,
I sent you an email yesterday, so I’m hoping this reply has already made its way to you.
Your comment concerns me. As a coach, I would definitely advise you to be concerned over your oxygen levels even if your doctor isn’t.
Please read the rest of the posts in the oxygen category here on Heart Failure Solutions.
Do not minimize this!
The articles posted here will teach you what it will cost you if you do.
It sounds like your doctor is definitely minimizing your low oxygen levels.
You must be your own best advocate, or find someone to advocate for you.
I have clients that use oxygen generators without a prescription because they couldn’t get a doctor’s order for an oxygen concentrator. This can be dangerous with end of life issues, so they hired me to advise them.
However, your insurance will pay for your oxygen if your level with oximetry is 88% or below (An oximeter is the machine used to measure oxygen saturation as a percentage.) Do keep in mind that 92% is the bare minimum required for health, but 88% is when they will pay for supplemental oxygen.
If you would like further coaching on this reply to this comment and we can discuss it.
Please be aware that your short term memory will be drastically affected by low oxygen levels.
This memory loss makes it harder to navigate getting proper care. I became a coach because I saw such a need for this specific concern. You are not alone.
Low oxygen levels and sleep apnea are IMMEDIATELY life threatening.
Did you get that? Life threatening. Your heart may spontaneously stop at any point that you are experiencing low oxygen levels. Your sleep apnea is also causing you to accumulate carbon dioxide which elevates your pH, which is VERY harmful.
Low flow oxygen is easy for your doctor to order right now with the evidence of low oxygen level available to him from the sleep lab. You should at least have low flow home oxygen available to you from your insurance, NOW. I’d push this point.
The other way to get this data is to do a little walking in your doctors office. Insist on walking a few stairs if you have trouble getting the 88%. You take stairs in your normal daily activity and your health depends on preventing low oxygen levels. If he/she can observe 88% you will have no problem getting oxygen and getting it paid for. Don’t let your health care provider tell you otherwise.
You need to get the care you desperately need as soon as possible. If you have someone who can advocate for you, I strongly suggest that you ask them for help.
I charge a $350 Initial Assessment fee, and $75/hour there after. I would advise you to have an advocate present with you whether you are receiving coaching from me, or counsel from your doctor. Your oxygen levels are taking a huge toll, have no doubt. It is difficult to even think clearly with chronic low oxygen levels.
I am currently creating a class called “Increasing Your Oxygen From the Inside Out”.
I’m really excited to be able to offer long term group coaching at reasonable prices with the launch of my new programs. They are in the works! Dr. Ina Gilmore has joined the team and we are excited to help you find solutions to your health challenges.
Stay tuned for good things to come very soon.
My heart goes out to you, let me know if I can help.
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Many blessings,
Carrie
I’ve just been diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea, and will be getting my CPAP machine next week. Going over my snoresat test at the sleep clinic, my oxygen levels were routinely in the low 80’s, and for a short period of time, they went as low as 64%. No wonder I felt like a fish out of water, heart racing, gasping and choking when I would wake up a bazillion times a night.
I am so looking forward to feeling better soon.
Aloha April,
I am so happy that you got the care you needed! Now you can get back to enjoying your life!
Many blessings,
Carrie
Hello. My husband is having problems sleeping at night, sudden anxiety, very tired all day, and just a “hung over” feeling ! He is 42 and already on BP and colesterol meds. His Dad and uncle had deadly heart attacks in their 50’s. He also has family history of thiroid disorder and diabetes. His (new) doc says his blood work came back fine and wants to send him for a sleep study. Unfortunatley our insurance doesnt cover sleep studies….so doc ordered a test done at home,with his finger, to measure his oxygen,in hopes that if test showed low oxygen that insurance would decide to pay ….but again they refused. (I am not sure what his numbers were). Anyway my question is should we try to rule out some sort of heart issue first …since insurance DOES cover that and it does run in his family (could that be causing his low oxygen?)or do we fork out the $5,000 plus to pay for this sleep test?