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Can Anxiety Effect Pulse Oximetry Readings?
Can anxiety cause a pulse ox to go lower? My mother's physical therapist told her to see her doctor because her pulse ox was going low (in the 80's) when she exerted herself. It would return into the 90's when she rested. Her doctor said he thought it was due to anxiety - is this possible?
Thu, 4 Sep 2014
If her pulse oxymeter reading is going down on exertion, it means that blood is not getting oxygenated properly when demand is high. At rest oxygenation is okay because demand is lower.
This is not likely to be due to anxiety in my opinion. It may be due to heart problem.
You should take your mother to an internist or a cardiologist.
I hope this answers your question.
This is not likely to be due to anxiety in my opinion. It may be due to heart problem.
You should take your mother to an internist or a cardiologist.
I hope this answers your question.
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