How low can your oxygen level go before you die because of it?

This topic has gained immense attention during the Covid times. People all over the world were dying because of low oxygen saturation levels and everybody was wondering how low can your oxygen level go before you die because of it. In addition to that, every household began using a pulse oximeter at this point of time. This instrument is highly efficient and it indicates the percentage of oxygen saturation in the person's arterial blood. A significant advantage of this test is that it is non invasive. The device consists of a sensor that detects the wavelength that is reflected from the person's blood. All you have to do is simply attach the probe of the device to your earlobe, finger, or any other suitable parts of your body. Once you place the probe correctly, the pulse oximeter will give you a reading instantly.  Whenever you require at-home monitoring, you should try to check the oxygen saturation levels with the help of wearable pulse oximetry devices. These days, you will also get several smartwatches that provide this feature. If you want, you can also get a decent pulse oximetry device from your nearby pharmacy store.

Check out how low can your oxygen level go before you die

• An oxygen level that lies between 95% and 100% is considered as normal. But still, some people might have an oxygen level that is slightly lower than the stated values. This is completely normal, as certain medical issues might cause a low oxygen level in these people.
• You should not make any assumptions after checking your or someone else's oxygen levels. It must be noted that only a doctor will be able to find out what a normal oxygen level is for a certain individual. They take into consideration the medical history of the person and other such related factors.
• The particular oxygen level at which an individual begins experiencing symptoms of low oxygen level will show significant variations from one person to another. But, in most cases if the oxygen level drops below 90%, then the individual will face symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc.
• If the oxygen level drops below 80%, then it can be life-threatening. Further decrease will lead to organ damage and eventually death.
• If the level of oxygen drops below 2 mg/dL, then survival is very difficult. If the levels go below 3 mg/dL then the situation can become quite fatal.

What happens when oxygen level drops?

• We have discussed how low can your oxygen level go before you die because of it. Now, let's see what happens as the oxygen level decreases. The symptoms of low oxygen levels include the ones listed below.

1. Rapid breathing
2. Fatigue
3. Confusion
4. Shortness of breath
5. Dizziness
6. Rapid heart rate
7. Blue tint to the lips or fingertips

• As the oxygen level drops, the patients will start experiencing a wide range of symptoms as listed above. The low oxygen level might also lead to a number of health complications. Some of these complications might go unnoticed until the situation aggravates further.
• We all know that the cells of our body require oxygen to function properly. Oxygen helps them to produce the much needed energy to fuel all other necessary functions. In the absence of this oxygen, the cells will not be able to carry out their normal functions and they might eventually die.
• During the initial stages, the person will experience symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, etc. Most people tend to take these symptoms lightly and they refuse to seek medical attention.
• In the absence of proper medical help, the situation will worsen to a great extent. This will eventually lead to organ damage, and finally death.

Treatment and prevention

• The question, how low can your oxygen level go before you die is indeed very important. But, if we go through the associated treatment and prevention methods, then you will not have to worry about low oxygen levels and death.
• The appropriate treatment for low oxygen levels primarily depends upon the underlying issue which is causing the oxygen levels to drop.
• It has been observed that in certain cases, the oxygen levels might drop because of high altitude, or poisoning due to carbon monoxide gas. In such instances, you will be able to solve the issue by withdrawing the person from the source of the problem.
• If withdrawing the person from the source of the problem is not working, then he or she should be given supplemental oxygen at the earliest. This can be given through a mask or nasal cannula as per the convenience.
• Sometimes, the oxygen levels might drop because of other issues such as a lung or heart ailment. During these times, the healthcare providers will prescribe some medications to manage the ailment and thereby improve the oxygen levels.
• In order to prevent the oxygen levels from undergoing a depletion, you must take into account the underlying issues that can cause it. This can be accomplished by managing the already existing lung and heart conditions, staying hydrated while you are at high altitudes, avoiding exposure to carbon monoxide gas, etc.

Conclusion

So, we have seen how low can your oxygen level go before you die because of it, what happens when the oxygen level drops, and what are the treatment and prevention methods. We all know that our brain is the organ which suffers to the maximum extent when there is a depletion in the oxygen levels. The cells in the brain will die within about five minutes of oxygen unavailability. So, whenever you notice any signs or symptoms associated with low oxygen levels, you should take it seriously and get medical assistance as fast as possible. The doctor will determine a lack of oxygen by performing a physical exam. Thereafter, depending on the condition, he or she will order other necessary testing, such as blood gasses testing, or pulse oximetry. These tests will help in finding out the exact concentration of oxygen that is present in the blood at that point of time.