Happy Hypoxia: How to Detect | Symptoms

Still more about Covid-19. If previously cough, fever, and shortness of breath are symptoms of covid-19. But do you know happy hypoxia is also a silent symptom and can be fatal? This phenomenon is referred to as silent or happy hypoxia.

What are hypoxia and happy hypoxia actually?

Hypoxia occurs when a person’s body does not have enough oxygen. The normal reading rate of oxygen in the body is 95% and above and the respiratory rate is 12 to 20 per minute. This causes damage to the brain, lungs, and internal organs and is fatal. In addition, Hypoxia can also be caused by various diseases, especially lung and heart. For patients who are infected with Covid-19, their respiration can usually reach 40 to 50 times per minute, and oxygen levels are below 95%. What we can see in these patients is they will look panicked and even short of breath because of difficulty in breathing. But it is different for those who suffer from happy hypoxia. Usually, these patients will look calmer, normal, and cheerful as usual even though the oxygen levels in their bodies are low. This is the most worrying condition because they do not show any symptoms and it is quite difficult for doctors to identify patients with this hypoxia. As a result, Covid-19 patients can die as a result of not being detected and not seeking early treatment.

How to Detect Happy Hypoxia?

So how can you protect yourself from this happy hypoxia? The only way you can do without a check-up in the hospital is by going through self-monitoring at home. You can check yourself using a pulse oximeter device. This device is used to measure the amount of oxygen carried into a person’s red blood cells. It is important for Covid-19 patients to use a pulse oximeter that meets medical standards and to know how to use this device. The light emission from this device will calculate the oxygen saturation in the blood as well as the pulse rate. The normal oxygen level in the blood is between 95% and above while the normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. How to use it is very easy. You only need to follow the 7 steps recommended by the MOH.

Step 1: Remove colored nails or fake nails (if wearing it) and warm both palms by rubbing them (if it feels cold)

Step 2: Rest for at least five minutes before taking the measurement

Step 3: Place your hands on your chest at heart level and stay at that level

Step 4: Turn on the pulse oximeter and plug in your middle or index finger (How to read Pulse Oximeter)

Step 5: The pulse oximeter will take time to stabilize and give an accurate reading. Maintain your hand position with the pulse oximeter for at least a minute or longer if the reading is no longer stable

Step 6: Record the highest reading if the reading remains unchanged for five seconds

Step 7: Make sure each reading is done carefully

Contact for Happy hypoxia

Next, all you need to do is jot down the information in a notebook. Each measurement and reading result should be recorded three times a day and should be done at the same time each day. You can also do extra measurements if you are not feeling healthy. You can also call the Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC), or 999 or as soon as possible directly to the emergency and trauma department if experiencing less than 95% oxygen levels while sitting or lying down within 1 hour or remaining at the same level.

So for that reason also people are advised to be wary of this phenomenon. Make sure you continue to practice the new norms and comply with the SOP.