Adult blood oxygen levels

A healthy adult takes from 12 to 20 breaths per minute, although a much smaller number of breaths can saturate the blood with oxygen – about 6 – 8 per minute. Despite the fact that we take a large number of breaths, most of us do not realize that we are not breathing optimally. Optimal breathing has a big impact on our health and wellness as it is directly related to the level of oxygen in our body. We will tell you why oxygen is so important to us, as well as 5 easy ways to get more oxygen.

As much as 90% of our energy comes from oxygen. Breathing uses chemical and mechanical processes to deliver oxygen to every cell in the body and get rid of carbon dioxide. Our body needs oxygen to provide energy for all of our life processes. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of this process. The respiratory system, with its conducting and respiratory zones, delivers air from the environment to the lungs and promotes gas exchange both in the lungs and inside the cells.

Cells then need oxygen to be able to break the chemical bonds of food molecules such as sugars, carbohydrates, and proteins in order to release the energy they contain. Delivering oxygen to our cells and muscles makes us able to exercise and lead a normal life.

What is blood oxygen level

Oxygen concentration (SpO2) is the term used to measure the level of oxygen in the human bloodstream and is a standard part of diagnosing patients worldwide.

SpO2 means oxygen saturation of the peripheral capillaries. SpO2 is measured with a pulse oximeter. It measures how much oxygen your blood carries compared to its maximum capacity.

Why is oxygen and its optimal level in the blood important? Breathing through the lungs provides our cells with oxygen, makes our brain work, and a continuous heartbeat ensures that oxygen is delivered to the tissues.

By exercising the inspiratory muscles (respiratory, intercostal, chest muscles), you can significantly increase the amount of oxygen.

The norm of oxygen levels in the blood in an adult

We inhale oxygen through our respiratory system, further oxygen enters directly into our blood and is further pumped into our body through the blood vessels. Oxygen transport occurs at the expense of our red blood cells (erythrocytes), which are responsible for the transport of gases in the blood.

When we breathe, we take in oxygen and take out carbon dioxide. This gas exchange takes place most efficiently in the final part of our lungs, i.e. in the alveoli. Therefore, deep breaths are important, they ensure that the air reaches the alveoli where gas exchange takes place and makes the blood more oxygenated, which increases the level of oxygen in your blood.

Increased oxygen levels help us perform better by giving energy to both our mind and body. If we lack oxygen (a state of hypoxia), we cannot work physically and we will feel tired and overtired.

Oxygen levels can vary greatly from person to person and depend on environmental factors.

Normal SpO2 levels are between 94% and 99%. People with lung disease usually have lower SpO2 levels. SpO2 below 90% is very dangerous and can put stress on the heart, lungs and liver.

How to determine the level of oxygen in the blood of an adult

Tests to check blood oxygen levels can be helpful in diagnosing or monitoring lung disease. Tests used include:

• pulse oximetry;
• blood gas analysis;
• assessment of long-term oxygen therapy;
• hypoxic load test (airworthiness).

Pulse oximetry

Oxygen is carried in red blood cells by a molecule called hemoglobin. Pulse oximetry measures the amount of oxygen carried by hemoglobin in the blood, that is, oxygen saturation, and it is expressed as a percentage (estimated on a 100-point scale). This is a simple, painless test in which a sensor is placed on a fingertip or earlobe. People with lung disease may have low blood oxygen levels, so pulse oximetry can help diagnose the problem. The more damaged the lungs, the more likely there is a problem with oxygen consumption.

Pulse oximetry can also be used to determine the extent of lung damage.

The test can be carried out as a one-time diagnostic measurement. It can also be used to measure oxygen levels over a period of time, such as during physical exercise such as walking or when you are sleeping.

Nail polish or fake nails can block light and affect results. Therefore, you will only be asked to remove the coating on one finger. This will help you get accurate results. Medical conditions, including anemia and Raynaud’s syndrome, can affect pulse oximetry results.

Pulse oximetry is carried out as follows. A small device called an oximeter will be attached to your finger or earlobe. It passes through the tip of the finger or earlobe 2 indicator lights: one red and one infrared. Blood containing a lot of oxygen absorbs more infrared light and allows more red light to pass through. Blood without enough oxygen absorbs more red light and transmits more infrared light. If your blood cells lack oxygen, they will appear more blue.

The oximeter displays the percentage of oxygen in the blood. For a healthy person, the normal level of oxygen saturation in the blood is about 95–100%. If the oxygen levels are low, this could be a sign of a lung problem. People with low oxygen levels may need supplemental oxygen or other treatment.

Blood gas analysis

It is used to more accurately determine the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. There are 2 types of tests:

• analysis of arterial blood gases, if the sample is taken from the wrist;
• analysis of capillary blood gases, if the sample is taken from the earlobe.

Blood gas analysis is used to check how well your lungs are working and whether they are able to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide efficiently. It can be used to find out if you need oxygen therapy.

The result will be a set of readings:

• oxygen;
• carbon dioxide;
• acidity (pH).

Abnormal results may mean that your body is not getting enough oxygen or getting rid of enough carbon dioxide. High levels of carbon dioxide may mean that your breathing is shallow and you may benefit from using additional breathing devices.

Evaluation of long-term oxygen therapy

Some people with very low oxygen levels may benefit from oxygen therapy. The Long Term Oxygen Therapy Assessment is a set of tests to measure blood oxygen levels to determine if they are low enough for oxygen therapy to be beneficial.

An oxygen therapy assessment is used to determine oxygen levels in people with chronic diseases such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, or cystic fibrosis. The result can help your healthcare provider decide if you should receive oxygen therapy.

An oxygen assessment is usually done when your lungs are stable and you don’t have a chest infection. Oxygen levels can drop during infections, but unless oxygen levels remain low, there is usually no need to have oxygen at home.

The assessment includes blood gas measurements on 2 occasions several weeks apart. Your oxygen level will be checked while you are seated. You will have a pulse oximetry test and possibly a lung function test with a spirometer.

Sometimes you will be asked to take a walking test to assess if your oxygen level drops during exercise and, if it does, to determine if supplemental oxygen is needed. For some people who do not need to use oxygen all the time, it may be useful during exercise. This is only useful for people whose oxygen levels drop significantly when walking.

Hypoxic load test (airworthiness)

The hypoxic load test simulates the conditions inside an aircraft cabin during flight. This means that you will be breathing with reduced oxygen levels, just like in an airplane. It is sometimes called the airworthiness test, but it only covers the question of whether oxygen is needed.

If you live with a lung disease, your oxygen levels may be below normal. During flight, the oxygen level in the cabin air is only about 15% compared to 21% at sea level. This means that during the flight, the level of oxygen in the blood can drop even more, to a level at which there is a risk of heart problems or other complications.

How to increase the level of oxygen in the blood in an adult

There are several ways to train your body to get more oxygen. Cardio is one of them, but it’s not enough to just focus on your workout when you want to boost your oxygen levels. By practicing cardio exercises, you train the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, but this does not mean that your breathing is optimal. We list 5 important ways to increase oxygen.

Breathe in fresh air

Open windows or go outside. Fresh air will give you energy and bring extra oxygen to your lungs.

Drink water

To saturate cells with oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, our lungs must be hydrated, that is, saturated with water. Therefore, drinking enough water affects oxygen levels. We lose on average about 400 ml of water per day with breathing and it is important to replenish them adequately.

Eat foods rich in iron

Certain foods can help improve blood oxygen levels. Iron is a mineral essential for red blood cells, which carry blood throughout the body. This is why we can be tired and emaciated if we lack iron.

Excellent sources of iron-rich foods include green leafy vegetables, cabbage and broccoli, fruits, apples, legumes, and lean proteins such as eggs, poultry, and fish.

Do the exercises

The better we get and use oxygen, the more energy our cells are able to produce. Thus, the increased use of oxygen will strengthen our endurance.

There is a clear correlation between performance and the amount of oxygen inhaled. This is measured in VO2 max, the maximum oxygen uptake. The higher the VO2, the greater the endurance. Interval training and sprinting are the best methods to increase oxygen levels.

Practice breathing

Exercise alone is not enough if you want to improve the quality of your breathing, because training does not guarantee that you are actually using the capacity of your lungs. However, breathing is vital for increasing oxygen levels.

Slow and deep breathing increases the level of oxygen in the blood. If you have breathing problems, your doctor will recommend a range of breathing exercises.

For the same reason, many post-infection people and athletes feel a huge difference when they start working on their breathing through breathing training. Breathing exercises not only build our stamina, but also help reduce stress levels through concentration and calmer breathing.

Popular questions and answers

We asked questions regarding oxygen levels and breathing problems Pathologist, Junior Researcher, National Research Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology named after N.N. Dmitry Rogachev to Dmitry Abramov.