Hypoxia and Medicine

Reduced Blood Oxygen Levels after Exercise?

Hi, all. Earlier this year, I had some pulmonary function tests performed. Overall, the results were normal. However, one of the results showed a decrease in my blood oxygen levels after doing a 6-minute brisk walk. My sitting blood oxygen level was measured at 98%. After exercise, the saturation was 94%. At the time, I hadn't done any regular exercise for a long time, so between that and my weight issues, the result is understandable. All my doctor said was to start exercising regularly and this should help. I've been doing daily cardio for a month now (30 minutes minimum) plus weight training and I don't feel like I'm making much, if any, headway. If I really exert myself, I feel like I can't catch my breath (I have a personal trainer who really pushes me...). I'm worried that this might not be a problem related to my lungs but rather my heart...that I've got blocked arteries and that's the reason why I have a low saturation level after exercising. I've had chest xrays done and they've come back normal. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas as to (1) why this might be happening and (2) what I could do to improve my lung function?

Public Comments

1. There are any of a dozen possible causes for low O2 sats. I would see a specialist (pulminologist) and ask what they can do to look deeper into the problem