oxygen level was 40, and I had very few symptoms

[giacinta]

Hi to all of you, I am new to forum.
My question is how can I have an oxygen level of 40 and feel fine? I was a little short of breath, but that soon went away. I was also a little gray looking, that to disappeared. My b/p was fine.
I was this way for an entire week in the hospital. The doctor said my oxygen level would only be like this if I were an athlete, and I am far from that! I am 43 yrs. old and have several health problems, none of them life-threatening.





































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































They gave me oxygen and also breathing treatments and was to release me when they decided to do an ECG. That showed that I had Junctional Bradycardia,(electrical impulses in heart are not operating as they should) and I was sent to a hospital specializing in heart problems. In the ambulance, my oxygen level stayed in the 40's and I was responsive. I was taken to Cath. Lab and oxygen stayed the same. I had a heart cath, done and it only showed a minute narrowing in one of the arteties. I had a stress test done also,(ions are used) and nothing showed up abnormal.

[Philip1815]

test

[Philip1815]

Giacinta,
There apparently is a technical problem with your original post and as such we are having problems posting an answer. The staff from National Jewish Medical have emailed me your answer below.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Phil
Med Help

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Reply from National Jewish Medical Center:


A low level of oxygen in the blood is called hypoxemia.  Ideally this level
should be 80 to 100 mm Hg at sea level.  There may be no symptoms with a low
level.  Sometimes the problem is only found when testing is done.  The best
way to measure hypoxemia is an arterial blood gas (ABG).  Most blood tests
use venous blood, but this test uses blood from an artery.  When the oxygen
in the blood is low, it eventually leads to hypoxia.  This is a low level of
oxygen saturation in the body tissues.  Hypoxia can be measured by oximetry
as well as ABG.  Oximetry is a device that measures the oxygen saturation of
the blood using a sensor that clips to the finger or earlobe.  Ideally this
level should be greater than 96% at sea level.  The symptoms of hypoxia are:
-Restlessness
-Impaired motor function
-Impaired judgment
-Confusion
-Unconsciousness
-Low blood pressure
-Fast heart beat
-Bluish color of the skin and lips
-Warm arms and legs

It is very likely that the number 40 refers to some measurement other than
oxygen.  The first thing to do is to confirm what the number was measuring.
Then, if you truly are suffering from a low oxygen level, request a careful
evaluation of your heart and lungs.  You could begin by asking for your
hospital discharge diagnosis.