A normal resting oxygen level is between 95-100%, and if your levels start to fall around 92%, you may be experiencing hypoxia, difficulty breathing or low oxygen levels.

Many factors can affect your blood oxygen saturation levels, including how much you exercise. Monitoring your blood oxygen levels through a pulse oximeter can give you a good picture of your baseline levels so you can better recognize when changes occur. Using a monitor can help you identify those changes and give you records to show your doctor if you grow concerned.

Your blood oxygen levels can range from that 95-100% threshold, and you can still be a completely healthy individual. Monitoring it can be important for knowing how your lungs are distributing oxygen to the rest of your body.

What Is a Pulse Oximeter and Why Should I Use One?

Doctors depend on pulse oximeter readings to determine a patient's overall health, often dubbing it the fifth vital. At the doctor’s office, patients most likely will have their blood oxygen saturation levels taken with a pulse oximeter at the tip of your finger, regardless of your ailments. Pulse oximeters are extremely easy to use and are sold at any local pharmacy or drugstore, making them accessible to anyone as well. Pulse oximetry is recommended on regular basis.

Oximeters are used to monitor patients when anesthesia is used or when a person has prior lung or respiratory issues. If you have certain health conditions, your doctor may recommend you start monitoring your oxygen levels at home and do pulse oximetry on your own. The Circular ring constantly monitors your oxygen levels, among other health metrics, and lists them on an app for your convenience.

If you are someone with prior lung illness or have been told to use a pulse oximeter by your doctor, the Circular ring may be the best option for you.

Not only does Circular monitor your blood oxygen levels, but it also monitors your heart rate, activity levels, sleep patterns, and more. This gives you an extensive record of your overall health easily accessed by an app on your phone.

Circular also provides charts and personalized medical care, so you can identify when changes occur and what the proper next steps are. A pulse oximeter helps you to gain more insight into your lung health and oxygen levels. If your body does not get enough oxygen, you may feel tired and distracted, or may experience dizziness or nausea. Use oximeter to identify your oxygen levels.

Why Is Getting Enough Oxygen Important?

Your blood oxygen saturation levels tell you if every cell in your body is getting the proper amount of oxygen from your lungs. Several factors can affect your oxygen levels, such as withstanding illnesses like asthma or COVID-19. Consult your doctor if you suspect that your oxygen levels may have been affected by prior illness in order to get a proper medical care.

If it is deemed necessary, a doctor may recommend that you are placed on supplemental oxygen when your oxygen levels drop. This may also be the case if you are struggling from sleep apnea, where your oxygen levels drop, or you stop breathing for periods during sleep. By constantly monitoring when your oxygen levels fall below the recommended range, you can also identify why your levels are dropping. It's important to get personnalized medical care advices in this case.

The same way your body needs sleep to recover, you also need proper oxygen. If you don’t get the proper amount of rest at night, you may notice your brain feeling foggier. Similarly, if your blood oxygen saturation levels drop too low, your brain will start to feel the effects and, in some cases, start losing function.

Receiving enough oxygen throughout your body is important because it helps you function and feel clarity. When your oxygen levels start to drop below 92%, you may begin to feel the effects of low oxygen levels. This could include feeling disoriented, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and an increased heart rate even at rest.

If you leave your hypoxia untreated or your blood oxygen saturation levels drop consistently, you may begin to notice your extremities or other parts of your body take on a bluish tint. This is a major indicator that your levels are too low to provide the correct amount of oxygen to your body. Low blood oxygen levels can lead to major organs and body parts shutting down if left untreated. Use oximeter to identify your oxygen levels.

Why Are My Oxygen Levels Lower When I Lay Down?

When your body is at rest, your heart and lungs are not working as hard to pump blood and oxygen throughout your body. If you are an active person, your heart rate at rest is normally lower than when you are moving because your body does not have to work as hard to get blood throughout. This is because physical activity strengthens your heart muscle, making it easier for your heart to pump blood throughout your body.

While it is normal for blood oxygen levels to drop when you are at rest, your blood needs a constant supply of oxygen to keep your body functioning, and supplemental oxygen may be necessary if your levels are too low.

For example, sleep apnea causes blood oxygen levels to drop significantly at night. In some cases of sleep apnea, supplemental oxygen may be necessary.

There are many causes for low blood oxygen levels, but remember that your number may not be the same every time you monitor it. Conditions like heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, or even high altitudes can all affect your blood oxygen saturation levels, so be sure to take all of this into account when monitoring your levels.

If you are unsure of the cause, consult your doctor to take the proper medical care in figuring out what is causing your levels to drop.

To ensure your blood oxygen saturation levels are regulated, you can take a few measures to optimize your health. Getting 30 minutes of daily exercise alongside a healthy, balanced diet can help you maintain healthy blood oxygen levels. Avoiding cigarettes and second-hand smoke can also keep any irritants out of your lungs that may make you more susceptible to low oxygen.

Tracking Oxygen and Other Metrics With Circular

When it comes to monitoring your health, Circular’s ring can help. Circular is a smart device that lets you track your activity so you can visualize the factors contributing to your heart and lung health, record your fitness progress, and notice trends in your health metrics.

This information is collected and placed into an app on your phone for easy accessibility, complete with charts that will help you see progress over time. If you exhibit changes, Circular will notify you with push notifications on your phone to help you identify the change and give you advice on how to proceed.

Tracking your health levels can quantify your bodily changes and help you identify what kinds of changes, if any, may be necessary. Circular can also help you track your progress so that you stay motivated in moving towards your goals. Circular is a great way to visualize your overall health. This device is waterproof, so you can keep it on at all times. It's your personal medical care assistant. Find out more information about circular smart ring on our blog.

Your oxygen saturation levels can drop due to many outside factors, but that does not mean you have to panic. When you are lying down or at rest, your body is not working as hard to distribute oxygen or blood throughout the rest of your body. As long as you are in the 95-100% range, you are most likely an individual in good health. Oximeter can help you to define your blood oxygen level. If your oxygen level is not optimal, it can cause a difficult breathing.

Sources:

The Need For Supplemental Oxygen | UCSF Health

Hypoxemia (Low Blood Oxygen) | Mayo Clinic

Pulse Oximetry Facts Sheet | Yale Medicine

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