Hypoxia and Medicine

Can low oxygen saturation be reversed?

I've started using an oxygen concentrator during sleep. I'm only a few weeks into not smoking, and if I'm successful in never smoking again, can this low oxygen reverse itself? After 30 years of smoking I'm betting the damage is not reversible, but just checking anyway. The oxygen level drop was in the low 80s. Wondering if this problem has been going on for several years, could this be contributing to the worsening of my anger, edginess, short fuse, strange thinking, etc, over the years?

Public Comments

1. Often unfortunately the lungs are way too damaged for it to completely reverse. The alveoli (where gas interchange takes place) can be too inelastic. But with time and respiratory exercises you can get better.
2. That is a pretty significant O2 drop. You said that you are a 30 year smoker but you did not say what your diagnosis is. Not smoking is always a good thing and will certainly help but how much it will help depends on the reason your O2 sats are so low so ask your doctor of respiratory therapist because they would be the ones that can best answer. And if you have quit smoking for a few weeks, you can keep it up! Good luck to you.