Low blood oxygen level, also known as hypoxemia, is a condition where there is a low level of oxygen in the blood. It is not an illness or a condition but rather a sign of a problem tied to breathing or blood flow. A healthy level of oxygen in the arteries is about 75 to 100 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), and hypoxemia is any value under 60 mm Hg. The amount of oxygen carried by red blood cells, called oxygen saturation, is measured with a medical device that clips to the finger, called a pulse oximeter. Healthy pulse oximeter values often range from 95% to 100%, and values under 90% are considered low.

Low blood oxygen levels can lead to many serious conditions and damage to individual organ systems, especially the brain and heart. Symptoms of low blood oxygen levels vary depending on the severity of the condition and from person to person, but they may include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, fast or pounding heartbeat, confusion, headache, difficulty breathing, bluish skin, restlessness, dizziness, chest pain, high blood pressure, lack of coordination, visual disorders, and rapid heartbeat.

Hypoxemia can be a sign of problems such as less oxygen in the air you breathe, such as at high altitudes, breathing thats too slow or shallow to meet the lungs need for oxygen, either not enough blood flow to the lungs or not enough oxygen to the lungs, trouble with oxygen getting into the bloodstream, and many heart and lung conditions. Treatment for hypoxemia often involves receiving extra oxygen, which is called supplemental oxygen or oxygen therapy. Other treatments focus on the cause of hypoxemia.

In summary, low blood oxygen level or hypoxemia is a condition where there is a low level of oxygen in the blood, and it can be a sign of a problem tied to breathing or blood flow. It can lead to many serious conditions and damage to individual organ systems, especially the brain and heart. Symptoms of low blood oxygen levels vary depending on the severity of the condition and from person to person. Hypoxemia can be a sign of problems such as less oxygen in the air you breathe, breathing thats too slow or shallow to meet the lungs need for oxygen, either not enough blood flow to the lungs or not enough oxygen to the lungs, trouble with oxygen getting into the bloodstream, and many heart and lung conditions. Treatment for hypoxemia often involves receiving extra oxygen, which is called supplemental oxygen or oxygen therapy, and other treatments focus on the cause of hypoxemia.