What Causes Oxygen Desaturation Upon Exertion?

Posted on Sat, 25 Jun 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 Answered on

Tue, 12 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. I have low oxygen desaturation. this happens when I get hot. When I go outside on the patio and sit. When I walk the dog. When I sleep. When ever my body gets hot. When I stay cool. In the ac I do not have any problem with desaturation. I have been to 14 doctors and no one can explain the reason. I am currently sleeping with oxygen because I dont know when it happens during the night. I no longer can go to the beach or to an out door event unless the outside temperature is not hot.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (-2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Have you checked for pulmonary hypertension?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Desaturation with exertion is seen with pulmonary hypertension also.
So 2d echo is needed first for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
This will aloo tell if any heart diseases are there or not.
So please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone 2d echo?
2. Have you ever undergone CT thorax?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 hours later)

Thanks
I have had a echo for my heart and it is ok. I had a CT chest scan not sure what a thorax is. I have also had 2 stress test done and I was fine a couple of breathing test. Appreciate your help.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thorax is chest region including lungs and ribs.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Thorax means chest region including lungs and ribs.
Does your CT scan include lungs and rib cage?
Was there any mention about pulmonary artery and it's pressure in 2d echo?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (18 minutes later)

The CT was done in December and this problem started a little after that time. It was done with the lungs and rib cage. I was told it was fine. The Echo had no response anything except that everything was good...I assumed it was okay.
I currently do not smoke and have quit since 1/22/15. I had a stent for a blockage then. I seemed to be okay but then last summer was having chest pain and it turned out to be gall stones and had the gall bladder removed in November. The breathing problem started after the gall bladder surgery. 11/20/15. I thought at first it was the anastesia. But, this desaturation of oxygen has gotten me very worried. I am trying to keep it together to figure out the problem. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
What is your weight and height?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern and situation.
Please let me know
1. What is your weight?
2. What is your height?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions to rule out sleep apnea.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)

I am 5'6 and weight 182. I gained about 25 lb when I stopped smoking and trying different statins. I have been trying to loose and I am not able to ...the pulmonologist her is saying it is because I am too fat.

I have had 6 sleep apnea test. I am borderline but was released saying that I did not have sleep apnea. I thought maybe I did but the oxygen levels drop when I lay down (not sleeping) and when I sit outside in the heat. Not sleeping.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, this can be the cause.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, this can be the cause.
You might be having sleep apnea.
Please let me know
1. Has any one advised you sleep study?
2. Have you ever undergone sleep study?
3. Do you snore at night?
4. Do you have excess fat in chin region?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

I do snore and I have a 16 inch neck measurement. Numerous studies and since it is dropping while I am awake I have ruled that out.
However, I do sleep with a CPAP machine with oxygen attached.

With the oxygen dropping while I sit- I have gotten to where it appears to be something about the heat that causes the oxygen to drop. Does heat slow the blood...when I am in doctors offices-where it is cold...my levels seem to go up.

I am sitting at my house right now on the computer with the AC at 73 and my oxygen is 97. I have sinus problem with a stuffy nose this morning and my oxygen is still up.......but Im not in the heat

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Day time fall in saturation does not rule out sleep apnea.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No, you are wrong.
Day time desaturation does rule out sleep apnea.
In fact it suggest worsening of sleep apnea.
Your heat-related issue is misery for me.
No, heat can not cause slowing of blood.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone systematic sleep study?
2. Do you have morning headache?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 minutes later)

confused
did you say that daytime drop in oxygen doesnt rule out sleep apnea?
I had several sleep studies not sure what a systematic sleep study is
I sometimes have slight headache in the morning..but just recently.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, day time desaturation does not mean that you are not having sleep apne

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, day time desaturation does not rule out sleep apnea.
Day time desaturation can be seen in sleep apnea.
Systemic sleep study means sleep study with CPAP titration.
Did they use CPAP machine during sleep study to see its effectiveness?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 minutes later)

yes, I was tested with the CPAP machine and the levels did not drop below 90.
I am using the CPAP machine now with the oxygen.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
How much pressures you are using?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Please let me know
1. How much Inspiratory pressure you are using?
2. How much expiratory pressure you are using?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)

I guess I dont understand why it is that the heat...being outside or getting hot causes the oxygen to drop. I love being outside and I am paranoid that I will have to have a oxygen tube ....I love the beach....just very depressed today.
However, you are being helpful........I did not know that sleep apnea could cause the oxygen to drop during the day.......

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
What is your lowest oxygen saturation during day time?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Thanks for your appreciation. I am truly obliged.
Please let me know
1. What your lowest recorded oxygen saturation?
2. What about your pulse rate at the time of desaturation in day time?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)

84 sitting in the heated car...I started feeling weird and check with my finger thingy and got into AC quickly. That is how I figured out that it was dropping when I was in the heat.
My pulse rate does go up but it wasnt over 100.
I did notice that during the (I check with my fitbit) night my pulse rate went up to 92 during my sleep the other night.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are due to sleep apnea only.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, your all symptoms are due to sleep apnea.
I am not threatening you, but sleep apnea is very bad disease.
It affects almost all systems of the body.
It can damage heart, kidney, Brain, psychology etc.
Please let me know
1. Do you have breathlessness on exertion?
2. Is your depression and other things worsen after sleep apnea?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 minutes later)

I am short of breath after exertion but, I have taken yoga and breath to keep my heart rate down.

I dont know about the depression......I dont feel that I have been depressed until now that I am fighting it because of the fact that I am afraid that I will never be able to go to the beach or enjoy the outside in the summer time.

If I could just see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It is about 75 hear now. I just wanted the dogs and did breathing excerises and the level got up to 98.....maybe the heat is causing me to breath differently...I also have large breast since I have gained the weight...I understand the seriousness of what is going on...that is why I have not given up and continue to see doctors...so far I have been to about `16 different ones and they cannot tell me the actual cause...however, none of them have told me that oxygen dropping during the day could also be sleep apnea especially since I was told that I did not have sleep apnea......

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Are you trying for weight loss?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern and situation.
Please let me know
1. Are you doing anything for weight loss?
2. Have you achieved menopause?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar