Question

Oxygen saturation less than what indicates hypoxemia?

1) 90%
2) 95%
3) 98%
4) 100%

Answer 1

Oxygen saturation levels below 90% indicate hypoxemia, a low blood oxygen condition. Pulse oximeters are commonly used to measure the percent saturation of oxygen in the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

Oxygen saturation is a measure of how much hemoglobin in the blood is carrying oxygen. The percent saturation of oxygen in the blood is typically monitored using a pulse oximeter, which provides a reading that ideally should be between 95-100 percent under normal conditions. Oxygen saturation levels below 90% indicate hypoxemia, which is a condition where there is a lower than normal amount of oxygen in the blood.

At high altitudes, the atmospheric pressure is lower, meaning there is less oxygen available to be breathed in and bound to hemoglobin, leading to lower saturation levels. This underscores the importance of considering contextual factors such as altitude when interpreting pulse oximeter readings.