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Blood Oxygen Levels

mskwild•

11 years ago•13 Replies

Does any one know WHY blood oxygen levels change to low levels when you walk,but are fine when you sit?

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mskwild

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13 Replies

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11 years ago

The blood is used to carry oxygen around the body and in particular to the places it is required.It's because walking uses energy which needs oxygen. On rest, sitting or lying, less energy required less oxygen required so more oxygen stays in blood.

mskwild• in reply to11 years ago

Thank you, but I am guess I am wording this wrong. I am wanting to know "why" our

body changes the useage requirement. Did the medication they gave me, and the defib going off "change" the way my body functions???

• in reply tomskwild11 years ago

Your body does not change the usage requirements, it is your illness that is doing that. Homebreeze is correct, when you are sitting down your body uses less oxygen (as with a healthy person) but when you stand up or exert yourself your body uses more oxygen (as with a healthy person).

Some people with breathing problems need extra oxygen (i.e. cylinders) to ensure that their vital organs are protected.

For example, my husband is on oxygen 16 hours a day 2 litres per minute and when he is sitting down (at rest), his saturation levels are approx. 88% but when he stands up his saturation levels drop very low sometimes into the 70% so he has to up the litres per minute to 4 this then brings his saturation levels back up to the 80's. Then when he sits down again he lowers the oxygen to 2 LPM, if he didn't do this, his heart would be working overtime.

If he was a healthy person then his body would regulate itself, but he is not a healthy person so needs oxygen to do the job that nature intended.

11 years ago

Homebreeze has put that very succinctly. Cannot think of anything to add.

Lynne195511 years ago

Good response Chris xx

11 years ago

That's how the body and the blood function normally not being a medical professional I can't say definitely. If your worried ring 111 or the BLF helpline tomorrow

11 years ago

That's how the body and the blood function normally not being a medical professional I can't say definitely. If your worried ring 111 or the BLF helpline tomorrow

CornishBrian11 years ago

Without the oxygen in your blood stream, your muscles wouldn't be able to convert it to energy. If you measure your oxygen levels when you are walking, when you stop and rest, keep monitoring the levels and see what your recovery time is ie how long til your level returns to your normal level. If I walk upstairs, my oxygen level will drop because my muscles are using it. If I stay upstairs, which would be normal because I'm generally too knackered for a while to do anything else, my oxygen level would slowly recover. However, if on getting to the top of the stairs, I took the bull by the horn and walked back downstairs, along the passage, through the kitchen and out into the garden, my oxygen levels will still be low but because it is something I do not generally do, that becomes "Exercise".

Exercise is the one thing that tones up your muscles to make them stronger and more efficient and so if you keep up the exercise your blood will absorb oxygen a lot quicker and more efficiently because you are "fit".In short, there is no short answer to your question.

mskwild• in reply toCornishBrian11 years ago

Thank you. Very informative. Do you know if muscles will become stronger if I just take

casual walks, or will only intense muscle building build them? And in building my muscles, am I correct in my thinking that it will "increase my oxygen levels" to build back to being normal (or close to it) when I walk with out oxygen. Right now I am only on 1.5 oxygen when I sleep. During the day I SIT "a lot" because of my office job.

I only weigh 115, so I don't want to do any strenuous excerise that will cause me to loose weight. Thank you so much for your insight.

CornishBrian• in reply tomskwild7 years ago

Sorry, only just seen your reply. According to the "medics", once you have done a particular discipline for two weeks, it no longer is exercise....it becomes routine. However, do what ever you can. You strolls or walks is getting you out the house but you can vary it a tad....10 minutes walk, 5 minutes power walk etc.

See you at the London Marathon 2019.

Hitchcock11 years ago

Interesting discussion. I both walk for exercise and work out on an elliptical machine. Walking, for me, induces lower O2 saturation levels than on the elliptical. However, my heart rate goes up considerably on the elliptical. The difference is the use of two different muscle groups. Walking involves more of the calves. Those fibers demand O2. The elliptical uses mainly my thighs. Those fibers burn mainly stored glycogen and less O2. I find that intriguing. Re walking, I use interval training as part of the walk (small hills). I induce apoxia (sat levels below 90) on the uphills. My sat level pops back up on the level ground.

CornishBrian11 years ago

I am limited asto what I can do now so I do home based exercises and use the Wii a lot. I've been told by a health care professional that the Wii does not constitute exercise and so I challenged her to half an hours tennis. I made my point.

When I was able I used an electric pushbike. It has a three position switch. 1. Normal push bike. 2. Pedal but then the motor assists. 3. Use the twist grip control like a motor bike and just sit on and steer. It was great along the canal towpaths either cycling or walking along side the bike. If I ran out of breath, just lean on the bike.

john1108657 years ago

Wow ... I think you all need to read about Hepatopulmonary Syndrome. I have HPS and the bottom line is .. I need a liver transplant. That is the only cure for HPS. Read about low o2 saturation. Supine (laying down is just ok), seated or standing ... o2 drops like a bomb... It's a right to left shunt, and no fixes ... likely most people also have Liver Disease.

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