Arterial blood gases: The value obtained from arterial blood gases or ABGs (SaO2) describes the oxygen saturation of arterial blood. It is obtained by drawing blood from an artery such as the radial artery in the wrist or the femoral artery in the groin. ABGs are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and can be a clue as to how efficiently your body is exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide. You will be near death before your blood oxygen goes below ninety. Our breathing is so efficient that the blood is 90–100% oxygenated even in severely suppressed wellbeing. Shortness of breath occurs not because there is insufficient oxygen in you. A blood oxygen level test measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. It also checks your blood's acid-base balance. Abnormal results can mean there's a. In the absence of any of the above, a fluctuating oxygen saturation level between 92–97 shouldn't be a cause for alarm, so long as it doesn't fall below 88% (the W. O standard cut off). The event of a consistent SpO2 of below 90 is generally indicative of a chronic obstructive lung disease and you should seek medical help immediately.
- Normal Blood Oxygen Level At Altitude
- Normal Blood Oxygen Level Chart
- Blood Oxygen
- Blood Oxygen Level Monitor
This oxygen chart extrapolates the effective amount of oxygen percentages to real altitude.
At real altitude, the barometric pressure of the atmosphere is significantly less than that of sea-level environments. The result is that oxygen molecules in the air are further apart, reducing the oxygen content of each breath incrementally as one goes up in altitude. The reduction of oxygen availability in the air thus reduces the oxygen saturation in the blood and brains of unacclimatized people introduced to the environment. This is why people traveling from sea-level often feel pretty lousy for at least the first week when they arrive at high elevation destinations. At its extreme, this desaturation of oxygen is what leads people to experience Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which is an incredibly dangerous condition. To avoid these negative implications of rapid introduction to altitude, we recommend people employ a “pre-acclimatization” strategy at home to prepare their bodies ahead of the altitude exposure.
The change in barometric pressure at real altitude is what scientists call “hypobaric hypoxia.” At Hypoxico, instead of changing the barometric pressure of an environment, we decrease the oxygen percentage of the air available to users to simulate high altitude desaturation. That is called “normobaric hypoxia,” and it’s been shown to be very effective in mimicking high altitude and eliciting the performance, acclimatization, and general health adaptations inherent to high altitude exposure. By controlling the percentage of oxygen in each breath, users can desaturate in a very controlled and strategic way so they can meet their goals. Again, this desaturation of oxygen from the blood and brain is what kicks on the adaptive response in the body, and by incrementally introducing the stimulus, users at sea-level can arrive at real altitude with little to no ill-effects. Our chart will help you find the oxygen levels by elevation for many common altitudes.
Below is an altitude oxygen chart that extrapolates oxygen percentages to real altitude, which you can use in conjunction with Hypoxico systems. This chart will help you find oxygen levels at altitudes you are interested in, starting with the oxygen content of the air at sea level. You can consult with a Hypoxico representative if you have questions about the true altitude you are simulating. You can also see real-world cities that correspond with the simulated altitude at various oxygen percentage thresholds.
Download and save your own copy of the Hypoxico altitude to oxygen chart.
You can also download the altitude to oxygen chart in an excel format where you can input your current elevation to get the corresponding percentages for your elevation.
Hypoxico Altitude To Oxygen Chart
The elevation related to the oxygen percentage.| Altitude (Feet) | Altitude (Meters) | O2 Monitor Reading | Effective Oxygen Percentage | Similar Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Level | Sea Level | 20.9% | 20.9% | Hypoxico HQ - New York, NY |
| 1,000 | 304 | 20.1% | 20.1% | Tbilisi, Georgia (1,479' - 451m) |
| 2,000 | 609 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Canberra, Australia (1,984' - 605m) |
| 3,000 | 914 | 18.6% | 18.6% | Chamonix, France (3,264 ft. - 995m) |
| 4,000 | 1219 | 17.9% | 17.9% | Salt Lake City, UT (4,226 ft. - 1288m) |
| 5,000 | 1524 | 17.3% | 17.3% | Boulder, CO (5,430 ft. - 1655m) |
| 6,000 | 1828 | 16.6% | 16.6% | Stanley, ID (6,253 ft. - 1906m) |
| 7,000 | 2133 | 16% | 16% | Flagstaff, AZ (6,910 - 2106m) |
| 8,000 | 2438 | 15.4% | 15.4% | Aspen, CO (7,907 ft. - 2410m) |
| 9,000 | 2743 | 14.8% | 14.8% | Bogota, Colombia (8,660' - 2640m) |
| 10,000 | 3048 | 14.3% | 14.3% | Leadville, CO (10,200 ft. - 3109m) |
| 11,000 | 3352 | 13.7% | 13.7% | Cusco, Peru (11,152ft – 3399 m) |
| 12,000 | 3657 | 13.2% | 13.2% | La Paz, Bolivia (11,942 ft. - 3640m) |
| 13,000 | 3962 | 12.7% | 12.7% | Yabuk Camp, Sikkim, India (12,467' - 3800m) |
| 14,000 | 4267 | 12.3% | 12.3% | Pikes Peak, CO (14,115 ft. - 4302m) |
| 15,000 | 4572 | 11.8% | 11.8% | Mount Rainier (14,411 ft. - 4392m) |
| 16,000 | 4876 | 11.4% | 11.4% | Mount Blanc (15,777' - 4808m) |
| 17,000 | 5181 | 11% | 11% | Everest Base Camp (16,900 ft. - 5150m) |
| 18,000 | 5486 | 10.5% | 10.5% | Mount Elbrus (18,510' - 5642m) |
| 19,000 | 5791 | 10.1% | 10.1% | Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft. - 5895m) |
| 20,000 | 6096 | 9.7% | 9.7% | Mt. Denali (20,310 ft. - 6190m) |
| 21,000 | 6400 | 9.4% | 9.4% | Hypoxico Home Generator Max |
| 22,000 | 6705 | 9% | 9% | Ama Dablam (22,349' - 6812m) |
| 23,000 | 7010 | 8.7% | 8.7% | Aconcagua (22,841 ft. - 6960m) |
| 24,000 | 7315 | 8.4% | 8.4% | K12, Pakistan (24,370' - 7428m) |
| 25,000 | 7620 | 8.1% | 8.1% | Chomo Lonzo, Himalayas (25,604' - 7804m) |
| 26,000 | 7924 | 7.8% | 7.8% | Annapurna (26,545' - 8091m) |
| 27,000 | 8229 | 7.5% | 7.5% | Cho Oyu (26,864 ft. - 8188m) |
| 28,000 | 8534 | 7.2% | 7.2% | K2 (28,251 ft. - 8611m) |
| 29,000 | 8839 | 6.9% | 6.9% | Mt. Everest (29,029 ft. - 8848m) |
| 30,000 | 9144 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Hypoxico K2 High Flow Max |
Clinical Contributors to this Story
Adrian Pristas, M.D. contributes to topics such as Sleep Medicine.
There has been a recent spike in sales for pulse oximeters, the small device used to measure the level of oxygen in your blood. Apple also just announced that the new Apple Watch Series 6 comes with a blood oxygen sensor and app. So, why is the spotlight on this health metric?
To get the inside scoop on blood oxygen levels and pulse oximeters and why there’s growing interest in both, we spoke to Adrian Pristas, M.D., pulmonologist and corporate medical director, Centers for Sleep Medicine at Hackensack Meridian Health.
Q: What does “blood oxygen level” mean?
Dr. Pristas: “Blood oxygen level” describes the amount of oxygen you have circulating in your blood. Our bodies need oxygen to function. Oxygen enters the body through the nose and mouth and passes through the lungs into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, oxygen helps replace cells that wear out, provides energy for our bodies, supports the way our immune system functions and more. Low blood oxygen levels indicate that there may be an issue with your lungs or circulation.
Q: Why is there increased interest in blood oxygen levels?
Dr. Pristas: People started to buy pulse oximeters to measure blood oxygen levels at home when they learned that low levels could be a sign of COVID-19. Shortness of breath is a well-known symptom of COVID-19, but it’s not always easy to detect. Some thought this device could be a tool to help self-assess for signs and symptoms. There have also been reports of “silent hypoxia” where peoples’ oxygen levels are dangerously low, but they don’t necessarily experience shortness of breath.
Q: What’s a normal blood oxygen level, and when should I be concerned?
Dr. Pristas: If you’re using a pulse oximeter to measure your blood oxygen level, a normal reading is a Sp02 level that’s between 95 and 100 percent. However, this may vary for people with certain medical conditions, such as lung disease. Speak with your doctor to determine what ‘normal’ is for you and keep in mind that while these at home devises are handy and non-invasive, they are not always 100% accurate. In fact, Apple says its new blood oxygen feature should only be used for general fitness and wellness purposes and should not be used to diagnose, monitor or treat any medical conditions. Other tests, performed by health care providers, include blood draws or breathing tests to accurately measure blood oxygen levels. If your Sp02 is below 95% you should consult with your health care provider.
Q: Can a pulse oximeter detect COVID-19?
Dr. Pristas: A pulse oximeter cannot detect COVID-19, however, it can help you monitor for signs and symptoms associated with the virus. Having a low blood oxygen level could be a sign of COVID-19, but it can also be a sign of other health issues that need to be discussed with your health care provider. Either way, if you are monitoring your blood oxygen levels at home with a pulse oximeter, contact your health care provider if your Sp02 drops below 90-95%.
Q: How does a pulse oximeter work?
Dr. Pristas: Using a pulse oximeter is painless. The small device simply clips on to your finger, and beams of light measure the amount of oxygen in your blood, as well as your heart rate. The small beams of light analyze the color and movement of your blood cells. Dark red blood cells indicate a lack of oxygen, while bright red blood cells indicate the right amount of oxygen. If 95% of the blood cells are bright red, while 5% are dark red, your Sp02 would be 95%.
You can also attach a pulse oximeter to your toe, earlobe or nose, but it is commonly used on your finger. Once the Sp02 reading appears, you can remove it.
Q: Should I monitor my blood oxygen levels at home?
Dr. Pristas: There are some scenarios when your doctor might recommend you monitor your blood oxygen levels at home. If you have an underlying health condition, like heart or lung disease, or you are in the process of recovering from COVID-19, it could be helpful for you to keep an eye on your blood oxygen levels. However, if you do choose to monitor from home, talk to you doctor first about how to properly use the device, understand your reading and interpret the results. For example, if your hand is not steady during the reading you could see varying saturations from a faulty reading.
If you’re otherwise healthy, it’s not necessary to have a pulse oximeter or any other device to monitor your blood oxygen levels at home. If you’re unsure, ask your doctor for personal advice.
Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our clinical contributor: Adrian Pristas, M.D.
- To make an appointment with Dr. Pristas or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905.
- Looking for guidance on how to reopen safely? Learn more about our Reopening America program.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care
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