Guide to Blood Oxygen Levels Normal, High, and Low.
                     Guide to Blood 
Oxygen Levels: 
Normal, High, and Low
Blood oxygen levels
• Blood oxygen levels (arterial oxygen) 
indicate the oxygen levels present in 
the blood that flows through the 
arteries of the body.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
What should oxygen levels be?
• Blood oxygen levels can also be measured using an instrument known as a pulse 
oximeter.
– The normal oxygen levels in a pulse oximeter usually range from 95% to 
100%.
– Blood oxygen levels below 90% are considered low (hypoxemia).
Source: www.medicinenet.com
Normal Oxygen Level
• A normal ABG oxygen level for healthy lungs falls between 80 and 100 
millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). 
• If a pulse ox measured your blood oxygen level (SpO2), a normal reading is 
typically between 95 and 100 percent.
Source: www. healthline.com
Low Oxygen Level
• A below-normal blood oxygen level is called hypoxemia. Hypoxemia is often 
cause for concern. The lower the oxygen level, the more severe the hypoxemia. 
This can lead to complications in body tissue and organs.
Source: www. healthline.com
High Oxygen Level
• If your breathing is unassisted, it’s difficult for your oxygen levels to be too high. 
In most cases, high oxygen levels occur in people who use supplemental oxygen. 
This can be detected on an ABG.
Source: www. healthline.com
Hyperoxemia
• Hyperoxemia is generally detected using ABG testing and is defined as blood 
oxygen levels above 120 mmHg. 
• This is mostly seen in hospitals when patients are exposed to high pressures of 
supplemental oxygen for prolonged periods (3 to more than 10 hours).
Source: www.medicinenet.com
What happens if your oxygen level is too low?
• When your blood oxygen level goes outside the typical range, you may begin 
experiencing symptoms.
• This includes:
– shortness of breath
– chest pain
– confusion
– headache
– rapid heartbeat
Source: www. healthline.com
How to adjust your blood oxygen level?
• If your blood oxygen level is too low, you may need to boost your oxygen 
saturation. This is often done with supplemental oxygen.
Source: www. healthline.com
What causes blood oxygen levels to be low?
• Conditions that can negatively affect your blood oxygen level include:
– COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
– acute respiratory distress syndrome
– asthma
– collapsed lung
– anemia
– congenital heart defects
– heart disease
– pulmonary embolism
Source: www. healthline.com
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