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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Low SPO2, Coughing Small Amounts Of Blood, Hypochondriac. Suggestions?

Lowish SPO2 - what could cause it? I'm a 37 year old male and have been aware of my breathing for several months now, Sometimes I just feel like I cannot get a full breath. My SPO2 at rest (laying) is 93% I'm a little overweight (BMI 29) have moderate activity day to day. I have no trouble blowing a peak flow meter to it's stop so the doctor doesnt think there is anything wrong with my lung function. However I am concerned by low SPO2. 10 years ago I breathed in a lot of burning paint fume from a boat trailer I was welding up (faulty respirator mask) I was coughing up stuff for days. Now when I get a chest infection I have incredibly severe coughing fits which may last days and result in coughing small amounts of blood. I have never been a smoker. I have - only within the last 18 months tho also managed to breathe quite a bit of asbestos dust brought about by a careless builder I hired. Any thoughts on this? I think my doctor thinks Im a bit of a hypocondriac about this since I have been several times with breathing complaints. Thanks
Sat, 17 Aug 2013
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Before proceeding for to find out cause of low spo2 in your case, better go for a ABG test and correlate it with spo2. In many conditions spo2 do not matches blood oxygenation levels. If ABG is also out of range start proper workup. You may need several investigations like CECT chest, CBC, evaluation for hemoglobinopathies and many more. Get opinion of a good general physician along with a chest physician
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Low SPO2, Coughing Small Amounts Of Blood, Hypochondriac. Suggestions?

Before proceeding for to find out cause of low spo2 in your case, better go for a ABG test and correlate it with spo2. In many conditions spo2 do not matches blood oxygenation levels. If ABG is also out of range start proper workup. You may need several investigations like CECT chest, CBC, evaluation for hemoglobinopathies and many more. Get opinion of a good general physician along with a chest physician