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How Serious Can Oxygen Saturation Below 90 Be?
Question: How does oxygen get from the lungs into the blood stream? I have a low oxygen level when I exert myself. I was told by a pulmonologist that only about 30% of the oxygen was getting into the blood stream.
Brief Answer:
See below!
Detailed Answer:
HI and thank you so much for this query.
I am o sorry to hear that oxygen transfer from the lungs into blood is only about 30%. What is the final diagnosis following what was seen on the CT-Scan. Is there any programmed biopsy or has it been done already?
Oxygen in lungs gets into blood through the alveolar membrane driven by a difference in the oxygen concentration between the alveoli and the blood stream. If the membrane through which this occurs is in thickened such that it serves as a barrier rather than a simple diffusion membrane, oxygen transfer comes greatly hampered and will result in little oxygen transfer. I think the problem with only 30% being transferred is fully explained by this.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
See below!
Detailed Answer:
HI and thank you so much for this query.
I am o sorry to hear that oxygen transfer from the lungs into blood is only about 30%. What is the final diagnosis following what was seen on the CT-Scan. Is there any programmed biopsy or has it been done already?
Oxygen in lungs gets into blood through the alveolar membrane driven by a difference in the oxygen concentration between the alveoli and the blood stream. If the membrane through which this occurs is in thickened such that it serves as a barrier rather than a simple diffusion membrane, oxygen transfer comes greatly hampered and will result in little oxygen transfer. I think the problem with only 30% being transferred is fully explained by this.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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