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Can Anxiety Cause Fluctuations In The Spo2 Levels?

Posted on Mon, 18 Jul 2016

Question: My SpO2 level will drop to mid 70s - 80s for no apparent reason and then they shoot back up to high 90s after a few minutes. Is this related to my high anxiety?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No anxiety can not cause low Spo2 levels.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the image you have attached.
No, anxiety can not cause decrease in Spo2 levels.
If you are asymptomatic then possibility of some technical error in your Spo2 machine is more.
It's sensors or battery might be weak, so they are taking time to sense normal reading.
Better to first rule out pulmonary disease before concluding it as technical error.
So please let me know
1. Do you have breathlessness on exertion?
2. Do you have dry cough?
3. Do you smoke?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)

My other thought was asthma cuz at those times I struggle to catch my breath. No to all three of your questions. And no machine is fine / batteries pretty new. I attached another image of what it reads now. (I feel fine) They come as "attacks" or in "waves" and many times its when im driving. I notice that I suddenly feel beyond exauhsted for no reason and when I check my SpO2 levels they are crazy low. Then the attack" will eventually pass and I feel normal once again. "

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you have stressful life?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the image you have attached.
I want to know few more things.
1. Do you have stressful life?
2. Have you ever undergone PFT (pulmonary function test)?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 hours later)

Yes i would say that my life is stressful but not any worse than my childhood. My only concern is that this drop is fairly new to me. Last year I able to drive 8 hours strait and now I can hardly drive 1 hour without being exauhsted. And no I havent done any sort of testing because I didn't think this is all that serious.... Should I? Is it something of conern?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, you should first get done PFT.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, this dropping of Spo2 can be worrisome.
But it's too early to conclude this.
We should first rule out lung disease.
So get done PFT (pulmonary function test) and chest x ray to rule rule out lung diseases.
Please let me know
1. What kind of stress you are having?
2. Have you ever undergone chest x ray?
3. Do you feel symptomatic only in car while driving?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)

Stress: I had a rough childhood which led to extreme social anxiety (in other words I struggle to live a normal life - but working on it)

And no haven't had an x ray done and no I get the same symptoms every time it happens no matter where I am.

Assuming its not lung disease what are other possibilities that could cause this?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Heart and lung diseases can cause decrease in oxygenation.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Sorry to hear about childhood. My wishes are always with you.
Coming back to question.
Low Spo2 level is suggestive of decreased oxygen content in blood.
Heart and lungs (mainly lungs) are associated with oxygenation in the body.
So anything related to heart and lungs can cause decrease in Spo2 level.
Since you are young, possibility of heart disease is less.
Please let me know what you exactly feel when you are with low Spo2 and symptomatic?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (21 minutes later)

I get tired and weak fast. No energy to do anything. I feel like im not in my own body if that makes sense. Everything kinda stands still. I got something called "boost oxygen" (its oxygen togo) and use it to help me catch my breath after if I cant recover fast enough on my own.

Also i am adopted so i dont know any genetic history if that matters.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
What is boost oxygen?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Sorry to say but I am understanding boost oxygen.
Please let me know what is boost oxygen?
Is it some kind of machine or tool?
Or is it your technique of getting deep breathing?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)

I attached a photo. Its meant to be used in high altitude or to recover after intense xercise.e

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This is oxygen supplement used in mountaineering.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have seen the image you have attached.
It is supplemental oxygen which is used in mountaineering.
It is actually a rescuer.
Your case is interesting.
I want to know few more things.
Please let me know
1. Do you improve immediately after taking this boost oxygen?
2. Is there any Co relation between such episode and stress level? Means do you get more symptoms if you are more stressful?
3. Do you have chest pain? Are you taking any hormone pills?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (17 minutes later)

1. No
2. Unknown but i dont think so
3. No and no pills of any kind

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should definitely get done chest x ray and PFT.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should definitely consult pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system, chest x ray and PFT (pulmonary function test).
I forget to ask you
1. Your height
2. Your weight
Sometimes obesity can also cause similar symptoms.
Hope you won't mind as I am asking some personal things.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (48 minutes later)

5'4 and 104lbs haha def not obese (been trying to gsin weight lol)

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are too thin.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Yes, you are right. You are too thin.
Your BMI is only 18. This classify you in malnutrition.
I still think that stress and anxiety are the causes for your symptoms.
Don't know why, but with talking to you, I somehow found you stressed.
Sorry if you hurt by this words.
It's not intentional, but as a doctor I am giving my opinion.
You should rule out lung diseases first.
If all the reports suggested in previous answer are normal then no need to worry for major lung diseases.
Please let me know, have you ever consulted psychiatrist for your stress?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (16 minutes later)

Not hurt. I see psych regularly

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Is your stress reduced after psychological counselling?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
It's great that you don't feel hurt by my words.
Thanks dear.
Honestly speaking, I feel myself attached to you emotionally. So I will do my best to solve your query.
Please let me know
1. Do you share your problems with your family, friends?
2. Is your stress level reduced after psychological counselling?
3. Are you talking any drugs for reducing stress?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar