Medical Meaning of Oxygen Saturation
Oxygen is a vital part of the bodily system. Your blood needs to transport it to every part of your body in order for you to be healthy. Oxygen requirements can vary slightly from person to person. In the medical field, oxygen saturation readings can help a doctor determine whether or not a patient has a lung disease or other problems.
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The Meaning of Oxygen Saturation
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Oxygen attaches itself to hemoglobin molecules; this is how it is carried throughout the body. Oxygen saturation or SpO2 is a measurement of the amount of oxygen the blood is carrying in relation to how much the blood is able to carry. One molecule can carry up to four molecules of oxygen. If one hemoglobin molecule is just carrying three oxygen molecules, it has 75 percent oxygen saturation. A further example is 100 hemoglobin molecules can carry a total 400 oxygen molecules. If all of those hemoglobin molecules carried 380 oxygen molecules, then they would be 380/400 or 95 percent saturated.
Healthy Levels of Oxygen Saturation
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For a healthy person their oxygen saturation level can be anywhere from 97 to 99 percent. Anything below 90 percent could lead to serious health problems and needs immediate attention. Your body's cells and organs need oxygen to live. You can achieve and maintain healthy oxygen levels by refraining from smoking, avoiding second hand smoke and doing exercise regularly.
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Hazards of Low Oxygen Saturation
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Very low oxygen saturation is referred to as hypoxemia. If an individual is suffering from hypoxemia their symptoms may include fatigue and confusion. Hypoxemia disrupts the body's ability to function properly which leads to tissue damage. Some causes of low oxygen saturation are pneumonia, emphysema, being in high altitudes, a heart that doesn't pump enough blood and anemia.
Treatment for Low Oxygen Saturation
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When you get treatment for low oxygen saturation, the amount of oxygen that will flow into your lungs and bloodstream will increase. Getting more oxygen will help you to breathe better and live a longer more enjoyable life. You can take your portable oxygen device with you wherever you go so you are not confined to your home. The oxygen can be delivered through an oxygen concentrator an oxygen-gas cylinder or a liquid oxygen device. Because of this treatment you will notice that you no longer struggle for breath and you have more energy.
Tests to Find out Oxygen Concentration
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A test that is often used that gives an estimate of your oxygen concentration is done with a clip attached to your finger. This clip shines light that goes from one side of your finger through out to the other side. There is a detector that measures the light that comes out. The clip can make a very educated guess at your oxygen saturation level because blood cells that are loaded with oxygen are bright red and will reflect the light differently. There is also a blood test that can be done. The results from this test will be definite. There are no risks for the finger clip test, and the risks associated with the blood test are very small.
Finding out a patient's oxygen saturation level is only one part of a doctor's assessment of the patient's oxygen conditions, other factors such as the volume of blood being pumped by the heart, the patient's ability to breathe and the colors that show up on an oximeter are also weighed in.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mikul
