How to Raise Your Blood Oxygen Level
Things You'll Need
- Pulse oximeter
- Supplemental oxygen
Instructions
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Attach a pulse oximeter to your fingertip. A pulse oximeter is a noninvasive medical device that measures, by sending lights through a transparent surface of the body, the percentage of your blood saturated with oxygen. The machine then displays a numbered percentage. A normal reading for a healthy individual is 95 to 100; a normal reading for someone with a respiratory disorder may be lower. Pulse oximeters are found in most hospitals and clinics; clinicians are usually willing to do a quick reading. Smaller, portable units can also be purchased online or in health supply stores for at-home use. They range in price from $20 to $100, depending on manufacturer and additional features, such as heart-rate monitoring, size and memory capabilities.
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Sit in a relaxed position. During activities the body consumes more of the available oxygen in the blood. Many times, simply taking a moment to relax can significantly raise the blood oxygen level.
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Take five slow, deep breaths. The air in the atmosphere is composed of a mixture of several gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Each breath contains approximately 20-percent oxygen. Taking a few slow deep breaths will enable the lungs to expand fully, taking in the optimum amount of available oxygen and expelling the carbon dioxide.
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Use a supplemental oxygen source to increase the percentage of oxygen within the blood. An oxygen tank with a face mask set at 15 liters per minute can deliver 100-percent oxygen to the lungs.
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