Normal Oxygen level in the blood

[Steve Dawson]

What is the normal oxygen level in the blood and is 77 critical?

[michelle23]

Yes 77 is not good, above 90 is where you should be. Really I heard 98 is supposed to be where you blood oxygen level should be. Please get it checked out.

[Grailhunter]

I read on a pulmonary therapist page that there is a increasing curve of debility even.  Basicaly, the difference between say 93 and 98 is not a huge deal.  I run 97 or 98 all the time regardless whether I am sitting, walking or hiking a mountain.  But I know lots of people that read 93 all the time that breath a whole lot better then I do.  The therapist was saying though, that as you drop those points mean more and more.  5 points in the 90's is not much, whereas 5 points of difference in the 80's is quite significant and 5 points in the 70's is a huge deal and so on.  So yes, at 77 you need to get this straightened out.  Your starving your whole body, and especialy taxing your heart.

[GMAN_RADIO]

I am very worried, I was told I have COPD last week. I am 30, will be 31 in Sept. I am very scared. I was told by my Doc that My Blood Ox level was 94 %. I am being tested for alpha-1, I will have the results next week. If I am fine and do have Alpha-1 like I am supposed to, could I live with out being in oxygen atleat til I'm 50? Please give me some insite. I got married a year ago May 20th, i have been in radio since I was a teenager. Please give me some insight! I feel like its a death sentence

[SkinnyGary]

I have Alpha-1. I was DX'd at 49 yrs old. For me I am on O2 now but I was down to only 18% lung function. I'm now in need of a transplant.
If you don't smoke, take care of your lungs you should live to a ripe old age.
It's good that more people are being tested at an earlier age.
I get weekly infusions of prolastin also.
It's not a death sentence but it will be a  life style change.
Gary

[GMAN_RADIO]

I have been smoking since I was 13, not to mention pot for 12 years. My doc says that my copd is moderate...Can I live 10 more years?

[Sunny602]

I think the best thing you can do right now to help those lungs is to stop smoking and take care of yourself. By doing that alone, the progression of your lung disease will slow down and some healing can take place. I know it is easier to say than to do, but please give it a shot as far as quitting. As Gary said, you can add many years to your life it you do what he suggests. I have known friends who lived with end stage COPD for over 10 years. Every person is different, but being very proactive in your care, treatment and health works to your advantage. Sunny

[joricky]

my son who is 52 was just told that his oxygen level is 66.....isn't this pretty bad....

[ski1616]

66% is a very dangerus level you rson is prone to Heart attack and stroke not to menton other pulmonary problems he should be put on oxygen right away to help prolong his quality and quantity of life

[bj707]

Anybody who is experiencing low oxygen should experiment with different breathing techniques.  For example I found that when I lay down my blood oxygen immediately drops ten points, but I found that if I take deep slow breaths into my belly (instead of shallow breaths into my chest) my blood oxygen immediately climbs back to 98.  I am starting to get in the habit of breathing this way when i lay down and it is making a big difference.

I have found that breathing faster or harder doesn't help, but slow, regular and deep into the belly helps and is easy to get in the habit of breathing naturally this way.  

[sstitanic2]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try that.

[Squirrely1937]

My 69 year old (ex smoker and post 1994 heart attack) husband was recently diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis.  The pulmonary doctor called him yesterday and ordered him on Oxygen for at least 12 hours each day because his blood oxygen was 83.  He also has some heart blockages and the cardiologist is now getting involved.  This seems like a death sentence to me . . . any words of encouragement?  

[chitawee]

I am 51 yrs old and the doctor told me today that my oxygen level at night drops to between 60 and 70 and that is with oxygen on.  So she is ordering me a sleep study and I also have to go see a lung specialist.   She said I am prone to a heart attack and stroke.  any advice you can give me I would apprieciate it.

[emilyrose732]

I just found this slide show that talks about low oxygen.... actually oxygen deficiency, and they are promoting a liquid oxygen supplement.  I've heard about these over the years.  Has anyone here used them?  Reference:  http://oxygensupercharger.com/oxygen-deficiency.html

[Dunc71]

I had a hernia operation ten days ago I'm a 40 yr old male. My blood oxygen level was 93,apparently it should be 98. The nurse asked me if I smoked,which I do. The nurse said if my oxygen level was any lower they would have kept me in,and that it was due to smoking that my oxygen level is low. Having read some of the entries on here,I conclude that my level is lower than it should be and the nurse was just being informative whilst also encouraging me to quit smoking. fair enough I say.

[Dunc71]

I had a hernia operation ten days ago I'm a 40 yr old male. My blood oxygen level was 93,apparently it should be 98. The nurse asked me if I smoked,which I do. The nurse said if my oxygen level was any lower they would have kept me in,and that it was due to smoking that my oxygen level is low. Having read some of the entries on here,I conclude that my level is lower than it should be and the nurse was just being informative whilst also encouraging me to quit smoking. fair enough I say.

[mschar21]

So when my son was born and his blood oxygen level was monitored and bouncing between 19 and 37 im assuming that this is rather bad?? I have no idea what blood oxygen levels should be but it did return to 97 - 98 after around 15/20 minutes of monitoring, should he have been on oxygen too?? As the midwife left the room 5 minutes after delivery and told me to ring if there were problems....

[lakia313]

I am sorry to hear that. My father was diagnosed with the same disease. Unfortunately there is no cure other than a lung transplant. The doctors will try to stop the progression of the Pulmonary Fibrosis with different meds. The problem is that the lung tissue changes to fibrotic tissue which in non contractile so the long losses the ability to expand then causing inflammation. There is no way to reverse this only hopes to stop the tissue change progression.

[clarkfla]

A dear friend of mine is in ICU right now. Her O2 sats will drop down into the 60's and below, then she'll go out like a light. They (the hospital) will bag her or put her on a ventilator until she is stable again. They have told her that they (the doctors) believe she may have a hole in her heart (ASD or VSD?) and now her kidneys are beginning to shut down. They tried to get her transferred to another hospital that might be able to handle or help her. Nothing is happening, and I am very concerned. She has a 5 year old daughter, that truly does not understand this. Can someone help me understand what is happening, or suggest a GOOD hospital she could go to?

[kayleesmom13]

My infant is 4 months her oxygen level was 94 this morning should I be worried

[kayleesmom13]

My infant is 4 months her oxygen level was 94 this morning should I be worried

[Viking716]

my son is physically disabled and has been in a BiPAP machine at night for several years. But recently has been taking a nap in the afternoon on the BiPAP for several hours. He has been suffering greater difficulty this past week and has been on the BiPAP almost 24 seven with 3.0 oxygen supplement. In order to maintain O2 level of 94 or better his oxygen is moved up to 4.0 l liters, is this dangerous?

[Quiet_Dan]

My Son who is 21 regulary wakes up in the morning and measures his Oxygen levels at 75%.

[jasmil]

Sorry to say, but the repetition of "very worried" tells the story.  I am at 93 every morning when I wake up.  I don't like to hear it either, but the doc's say "just don't stress".  I have multiple blood clots in both lungs as a result of a nice new chrome titanium shoulder, caused by a massive seizure. Even the best doc's, I have over 20, can't give more advice.  93 isn't that bad, and we all need to drop the stress.  

[jasmil]

just want to take a second to back you up on this.  "Belly breathing" can be life changing.  Don't worry about how you look or other peoples perception.  I use a puslometer through the process and it is amazing to watch 93 go to 97 just by breathing.  I see that readers hear have different conditions, but I have multiple blood clots in both lungs as a result of a surgery.  I had no idea that SOB would become the worst part of this process.  Not that it's a cure, but I do urge everyone with this problem to study belly breathing.