Blood Oxygen Levels: What Do My Numbers Mean?

Blood oxygen levels don’t have to be confusing. Let’s make sense of them together.

Let’s start with the obvious: what are blood oxygen levels? And from there, what do they mean?

If you live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis (PF), or emphysema, blood oxygen levels are undoubtedly an important measurement.

This is because they allow you to measure how much oxygen your red blood cells are carrying.

Why is that important?

The importance behind this metric is that by measuring your blood oxygen levels, you can alter your behaviors and lifestyle to positively improve these levels and possibly help reduce your symptoms and feelings of breathlessness.

In essence, the oxygen that is being carried by your red blood cells throughout your body allows your body to thrive and maintain homeostasis (when your body runs healthily).

To aid in this process, the delivery of oxygen through red blood cells in your blood cells is vital.

So, how can I affect this?

There are a variety of ways to positively improve your blood oxygen levels to help relieve your symptom expression and boost your energy levels.

And with your health in mind, the Lung Institute is here to help by giving insight into your blood oxygen levels so you can understand what they mean and if they are normal or not.

Blood Oxygen Levels Overview

As we’ve mentioned above, measuring your blood oxygen levels is important to your overall health.

It allows you to adjust and change your behavior based on your blood oxygen levels for the betterment of your breathing and condition.

But what are blood oxygen levels, and what do they mean?

Here’s a quick anecdote:

Imagine for a second that your blood vessels make up a giant subway network. The tunnels of this network are your veins, and the train itself is your blood.

Multiple carts (your blood cells) make up the train, and the people inside them are oxygen.

As this subway (again, your blood) travels through the network (your body), it’s dropping people off at various stops within your body.

The question, however, is how many people (oxygen) are in each car of the subway? And is there a way to pack more in them?

This fundamental scenario is blood oxygen saturation in a nutshell and explains the importance of your body’s ability to retain oxygen within your red blood cells.

In short, you want each of these cells jam-packed with oxygen for delivery throughout your body to maintain and boost your energy levels and overall health.

So, What’s Normal and What Isn’t?

Your body’s blood oxygen levels can be measured using a variety of different techniques:

  • Arterial blood gas test (ABG) measures your blood’s oxygen level by drawing blood.
  • Pulse oximetry—which places a clip device on your finger and measures O2 levels.

A normal ABG blood oxygen level for healthy lungs will usually fall between 80 and 100 millimeters.

If using a pulse oximeter, this reading should typically be between 95 and 100 percent.

In the case of severe COPD, on the other hand, an expected pulse oximetry level is likely to be between 88 to 92 percent. Some people’s oxygen level measurements may be lower.

When your blood oxygen level gets too low (hypoxemia), there are several symptoms that you will be able to recognize:

  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain
  • confusion
  • headache
  • rapid heartbeat
  • possible cyanosis (blue discoloration of the nail beds, skin, and mucus membranes)

Methods that May Improve My Blood Oxygen Levels

Thankfully, to combat low blood oxygen levels, there are several ways to raise them.

First, if your blood oxygen level is particularly low, it may be wise to consider getting on supplemental oxygen therapy if your doctor hasn’t already prescribed it.

In addition, always talk with your doctor about your oxygen level questions and concerns.

Adding to this, by raising the amounts of hemoglobin within the body through the ingestion of specific foods, it’s possible to positively impact your blood oxygen levels.

When your body has the nutrients it needs, it can deliver oxygen more efficiently as well.

To start:

  • Eat Shrimp: they are a good low-calorie protein and filled with important vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants.
  • Have an Orange: there are several things to love about the orange, particularly orange juice. The bonus is that they’re excellent sources of fiber, vitamin C, and other critical acids and nutrients.
  • Drink Some Almond Milk: Vitamin D is important, but so is avoiding any excessive phlegm build-up. Instead, pick up some almond milk. It tastes better and won’t leave you as gassy or bloated.

For more tips on improving your blood oxygen levels, check out our article “5 Tips for Improving Low Blood Oxygen Levels” and the article “5 Ways to Improve Your Oxygen Levels“.

Moving Forward with Your Blood Oxygen Levels

Living with chronic lung diseases like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and emphysema doesn’t have to be as difficult as it may seem.

By taking the time to better understand your disease and how to address issues such as your blood oxygen level, it’s possible to improve your overall health and quality of life.

Although these steps can be difficult as they require changing personal behavior from diet and exercise to your medication, change is possible.

With a few behavioral changes, it’s possible to greatly affect the pronouncement of symptoms within those with COPD, emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis.

However, when lifestyle changes fail to improve your quality of life as you expect, it may be time to consider further treatment options. Consult your doctor to see what your next steps should be.