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Blood oxygen refers to the level of oxygen saturation in the blood, which indicates the amount of oxygen being carried by the red blood cells. The oxygen is carried by hemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cells that binds to the oxygen in the lungs and releases it to the tissues throughout the body. Normal blood oxygen saturation levels range from 95% to 100%. A low blood oxygen saturation level, known as hypoxemia, can lead to a range of health problems, including shortness of breath, fatigue, confusion, and even organ damage. Blood oxygen levels can be measured using a pulse oximeter, a non-invasive device that attaches to the fingertip and measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.
