Decoding 'Happy Hypoxia' in #COVID19:
1. What is it?
Happy hypoxia or silent hypoxemia, a condition when a person’s oxygen levels are so low that they should be fainting or experiencing organ damage, but instead, they are seemingly well, until eventually, they collapse.
1. What is it?
Happy hypoxia or silent hypoxemia, a condition when a person’s oxygen levels are so low that they should be fainting or experiencing organ damage, but instead, they are seemingly well, until eventually, they collapse.
2. What actually happens?
The blood oxygen saturation level of a normal person is around 95% or more. However, in conditions that affect the lungs like pneumonia, the blood saturation levels drop below 94%. This condition is called hypoxemia....
The blood oxygen saturation level of a normal person is around 95% or more. However, in conditions that affect the lungs like pneumonia, the blood saturation levels drop below 94%. This condition is called hypoxemia....
...Blood oxygen levels below 90% is considered to be too low & oxygen therapy is needed. A person with low oxygen levels would have symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pain. However, in happy hypoxia, the person shows no such symptoms. Which is concerning.
3. What does latest study says?
Latest review @BioMedCentral reported disconnect b/n the severity of hypoxemia & relatively mild respiratory discomfort reported by the COVID-19 pts contrasts w/the experience of physicians usually treating critically ill patients.
Latest review @BioMedCentral reported disconnect b/n the severity of hypoxemia & relatively mild respiratory discomfort reported by the COVID-19 pts contrasts w/the experience of physicians usually treating critically ill patients.
4. Is pulse oximeter helpful?
Pulse oximeter helps in detecting hypoxia. This device may indicate issues with blood oxygen levels which could be related to COVID as COVID-19 is not the only disease that causes low blood oxygen levels. Read in detail:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/hea…
Pulse oximeter helps in detecting hypoxia. This device may indicate issues with blood oxygen levels which could be related to COVID as COVID-19 is not the only disease that causes low blood oxygen levels. Read in detail:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/hea…
It might be helpful to use a pulse oximeter at home to monitor oxygen level in COVID 19 patients, particularly being treated at home. Although, this device is not very helpful in severely ill patients.
