Oxygen Smart

Symptoms of Lack of Oxygen.

Posted by admin - 14/04/09 at 05:04 pm

Sometimes patients that need supplemental oxygen are not aware when they are not receiving enough oxygen. This could be because of a kink in the tube, breathing through the mouth or even a mis-adjusted flow rate.  Whatever the reason those close to you should know the following signs of lack of oxygen so they can react appropriately.

• Lips or finger nail turn a bluish/purplish color. (I have noticed this one a few times with my father during lunch times).
• Slurry speech and slightly incoherent sentences.
• Headaches are also sometimes caused by lack of oxygen.
• Feeling drowsy and having trouble staying awake.
• Irregular breath, be it shallow, slow, or breathlessness.
• Feeling anxious.

The more people about you, who are aware of these signs – the better. One of the effects of oxygen deprivation is that the person lacking oxygen many times does not realize it and therefore needs someone else to point it out to them, or in extreme case to call the emergency services.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 at 5:25 pm and is filed under Life & Oxygen, Oxygen Safety. The entry is tagged under Oxygen Safety, oxygen therapy, signs of oygen deprivation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.