What is the typical Oxygen saturation level?

Oxygen saturation level indicates the percentage of hemoglobin in your blood that is saturated with oxygen. Oxygen Saturation is often referred to as SpO2 or Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen. For a healthy individual, oxygen saturation level is considered normal when SpO2 falls between 95% and 100%.

However, several aspects, such as your health conditions, breathing rate and level of physical activity influence your oxygen saturation level. 

What causes your Oxygen Saturation to drop?

Your oxygen saturation can decline for a multitude of reasons, such as general wellness, levels of physical activity, breathing, and your location. Some normal activities like sleeping can cause the oxygen saturation to drop, even while your saturation levels are expected to remain within the usual range. 

Variations in the levels of available oxygen, such as those found on airplanes or at higher altitudes, can also lead to a fall-off in your oxygen saturation level. If you have a lower hemoglobin level, like persons with iron deficiency, you may also have a low oxygen saturation. 

Moreover, ailments and conditions that compromise your breathing ability, the potential of the lungs to absorb adequate oxygen, or that trigger problems with the body’s gas exchange mechanism can result in considerably lower oxygen saturation levels.