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76 years
I have emphysema,i live in a sea level area , my oxygene level is 92% ,when i go to the mountain area my oxygen level drops to 85 % . Why
Aug 6, 2014

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
The amount of oxygen found in the atmosphere drops as you go higher up in altitude. This explains why people who inhabit areas that are above sea level usually have higher hemoglobin, the pigment in the red cells responsible for carrying oxygen to the organs in the body.
Emphysema, in which the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs are damaged: thire inner walls are weak; eventually they get torn and coalesce into one larger air space instead of many smaller ones. This reduces the surface area of the lungs, this surface area through which gas exchange (taking in oxygen and throwing out carbon dioxide) occurs. As a result, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream is reduced as well, this is why you feel progressively more short of breath. Additionally, upon exhalation, the alveoli are not able to fully expel their content of air, so old air becomes trapped, leaving no room for fresh, oxygen-rich air to enter.
It is wise to discuss this matter with your treating doctor, this could be solved by increasing the oxygen concentration of your ventilation device or adjusting medication doses during your residence in the mountains.
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