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Question: I am a hypochondriac. Have had sinus congestion and dry cough for some time. Assuming it was related to ACE inhibitor I take or allergy/post nasal drip that I've had for years.
I purchased a pulse oximeter to check my oxygen levels. Here's the result.
Seems to range in the 93-95 level.....but I am a shallow breather. If I slow down and slightly deepen my breathing - inhaling for 2-3 seconds - it consistently registers at 96/97; although sometimes at 95...sometimes at 98.
Does this seem concerning, like emphysema or other.
I do walk 3-4 miles per day at a 16 minute pace - with hills. Don't have a problem - no panting or gasping for air. Just breathing more deeply when I do the hills.
Could my shallow 'inhaling in' (maybe 1 second to 1.5 seconds) cause the low readings? Can I take comfort given that inhaling for a little longer (2-3 seconds) almost always drives the % up to 95-98.
Thanks.
Meant to add........
if I inhale through my mouth rather than my nose (which always seems to be congested to some degree), the pulse oxygen % rises to that 95 -97% range.
Do you think my nasal congestion could contribute to the slightly lower percentage?
Thanks.
I purchased a pulse oximeter to check my oxygen levels. Here's the result.
Seems to range in the 93-95 level.....but I am a shallow breather. If I slow down and slightly deepen my breathing - inhaling for 2-3 seconds - it consistently registers at 96/97; although sometimes at 95...sometimes at 98.
Does this seem concerning, like emphysema or other.
I do walk 3-4 miles per day at a 16 minute pace - with hills. Don't have a problem - no panting or gasping for air. Just breathing more deeply when I do the hills.
Could my shallow 'inhaling in' (maybe 1 second to 1.5 seconds) cause the low readings? Can I take comfort given that inhaling for a little longer (2-3 seconds) almost always drives the % up to 95-98.
Thanks.
Meant to add........
if I inhale through my mouth rather than my nose (which always seems to be congested to some degree), the pulse oxygen % rises to that 95 -97% range.
Do you think my nasal congestion could contribute to the slightly lower percentage?
Thanks.
Spo2 96 At Rest
Maintaining SpO2 at 88-92% is needed to maintain respiratory drive). SpO2 93-96% = consider, if safe to do so, asking the patient to briefly exercise (walk up flight of stairs, march on spot for a minute) to assess if they desaturate with exercise. O This would require a.
Spo2 93-96
Spo2 96 On Room Air
- Normal SpO2 values vary between 90 and 100%. Good blood oxygenation is necessary to supply the energy your muscles need in order to function, which increases during a sports activity. If your SpO2 value is below 90%, that could be a sign of poor blood oxygenation, also called hypoxia.
- This scientific letter considers the rationale for the target oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) range of 92-96% for oxygen therapy in adult patients without COPD or other conditions associated with chronic respiratory failure, recommended by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, in contrast to the 94-98% target range recommended by the British Thoracic Society.