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What Affects the Amount of Oxygen Carried by the Blood?

Oxygen enters the blood stream in the lungs, where a protein called hemoglobin carries the compound to the cells and organs in the body. When oxygen levels are low, called hypoxia, certain factors should be assessed and treated to increase its delivery to the body tissues.

  1. Decreased Intake in the Lungs

    • If the lungs cannot take in enough oxygen, such as during respiratory distress or in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the amount of oxygen supplied to the blood in the arteries will be decreased. This condition is called arterial hypoxemia.

    Hemoglobin Levels

    • After diffusion into the arteries, oxygen binds to a blood protein called hemoglobin. If hemoglobin is low, the oxygen cannot be transported to the cells of the body. Low hemoglobin levels is called anemia.

    Hemoglobin Shape

    • Oxygenated hemoglobin has a planar, or flat, shape. If the protein is bent or domed, such as in the condition sickle-cell anemia, oxygen is not able to effectively bind and less is transported through the blood.

    Low Iron Levels

    • Hemoglobin contains iron that chemically provides a binding site for the oxygen molecule. If the hemoglobin protein does not contain enough iron, a reduced amount of oxygen can bind.

    Decreased Blood Vessel Tension

    • If the blood vessels are weak or are over-expanded due to medication, blood flow is reduced and the amount of oxygen that can be dissolved and carried through the body is reduced. This condition is called stagnant or hypokinetic hypoxia.

    Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

    • When carbon monoxide enters the blood stream, it displaces oxygen on the binding sites of the hemoglobin protein. Carbon monoxide is 250 times more likely to bind with hemoglobin than oxygen. This condition is called carboxyhemoglobin.

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