“Just breathe.”
How often have you heard that phrase in a stressful or emergency situation?
Breathing doesn’t always come easily for people with chronically low blood oxygen levels. Knowing how to increase your oxygen level immediately is critical if you’re one of those people. It’s necessary to address the root cause of the persistent low level.
First, When Not to Worry About Your Oxygen Level
At Priority Physicians, our patients are increasingly alert to their oxygen levels — and occasionally, even those without chronic breathing issues become uneasy. The catalyst? It’s usually their health tech — perhaps an Apple Watch or pulse oximeter displaying an 80% or 90% oxygen level. Rest assured, most of the time a 10% or 20% dip is not cause for panic… especially if you are feeling fine.
Often, a random odd oxygen level isn’t even an accurate reading, so before concern sets in, be sure your reading makes sense.
For example, a blood oxygen level of 40% is considered severe hypoxemia, a true medical emergency compromising brain and heart function. If you see a level this low but you’re fully functional, the reading is faulty, not your oxygen intake!
Here are some factors that can temporarily disrupt your oxygen-level reading:
- Test if your device reads correctly in context by taking a deep breath. If the reading elevates temporarily, the device (and your lungs) are in working order.
- Are you wearing fingernail polish? Yes, a manicure may obstruct a fingertip pulse oximeter’s ability to read your levels.
- Are you suddenly cold or sweaty? Changes in your body temperature might make your reading fluctuate.
- Can you be anemic? Low hemoglobin can cause unusual oxygen levels to display, too.
What Causes Chronically Low Oxygen?
Let’s focus on patients with serious breathing difficulties, whether chronically or during a medical event. It’s estimated that as many as 25% of middle-aged and older adults experience regular breathlessness — for these people, low blood oxygen readings can be a warning sign.
The following serious situations may cause irregular or inefficient breathing and prevent a patient from getting necessary levels of oxygen:
- Heart’s response to higher altitudes
- Sleep apnea
- Sinus infection
- Lung pathologies, such as:
- Bronchitis or pneumonia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- Pulmonary embolism
How to Increase Your Oxygen Level Immediately
If your oxygen often dips significantly, here are a few tips on how to raise it immediately:
- Move around or take a walk to increase your heart rate. By increasing your heart rate, you circulate more oxygen to the body.
- Open a window or head outside. A breath of fresh air automatically boosts your body’s oxygen level.
- Manage stress. Anxiety and low oxygen levels go hand-in-hand. If you’re not breathing well, you become anxious, and when you’re anxious, you likewise don’t breathe well. During a panic attack, for example, blood oxygen levels often dip, creating further stress and lower readings. Take a moment and focus on taking deep, productive breaths. Breaking the vicious cycle improves the situation.
- Sit up! Your autonomic nervous system controls your breathing: It’s automatic. Your body’s innate urge to breathe will awaken you from sleep if your oxygen level dips too low. Sitting erect can help relax the partially obstructed windpipe. If your levels seem low — but upon sitting up, you feel normal, not lightheaded, and can speak clearly — stay calm, you’re likely okay.
Breathe Intentionally
All of us — those with unobstructed breathing and those with more chronic concerns — can be intentional about our breathing when awake.
Focus regularly on getting fresh air and taking deep, refreshing breaths that support healthy blood oxygen levels. And for more help on how to increase your oxygen level immediately, see your Priority Physicians doctor. We’ll help you breathe easier.
