Hypoxia and Medicine

What is the difference between dyspnea and hypoxia. What is worse. Why?

Public Comments

1. dyspnea- shortness of breath hypoxia- lack of oxygen to the brain. hypoxia is worse.
2. Dyspnea or short of breath (SOB) is perceived difficulty breathing or painful breathing. It is a common symptom of numerous medical disorders. Hypoxia : a shortage of oxygen in the body. Hypoxaemia is the reduction of oxygen specifically in the blood; anoxia is when there is no oxygen available at all. You can't compare which is worse because : Dyspnea is symptoms, hypoxia is the result (of dyspnea/apnea).
3. dyspnea = difficulty breathing. subjective. you can have difficulty breathing, but still have a normal blood oxygen gas level. hypoxia = a blood oxygen gas level (oxygen saturation) less than 85%. hypoxia would require hook-up to an oxygen mask at least. treatment of dyspnea would relate to the root cause of the difficulty. which is worse? clinically, hypoxia.