What is a normal waking pulse ox? is one of 93 ok? -

I went to the ER having problems breathing and my pulse ox was at 93. I have pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the artery going from the heart to your lungs) so I don t like to mess around. They told me at the ER that it was not normal but that I had to speak to my Pulmonoligst. I did and he brushed me off and said it was fine. The ER doc said it was bad. My Pulmonoligist is foreign and I feel like I am being brushed off and also wonder if it is b/c I don t have insurance. Can I get some input from someone in the medical field? Thank You.

The main problem with pulmonary hypertension (pulm HTN) is that the blood pressure in the vessels of the lung becomes elevated. Over time, if this pressure remains high, it causes remodeling of the pulmonary vessels themselves. The vessels become more stiff, to better withstand the higher pressure. This, in turn, causes the resistance to blood flow within the lungs to increase as well. To compensate, the right heart has to work harder to pump blood through the lungs for it to be oxygenated. Left untreated, pulm HTN may result in right heart dilation and heart failure. While most doctors agree that a pulse ox of gt;90% is tolerable, in reality, a normal pulse ox is generally above 96% (often around 99-100%). That said, 93% does not provide enough information whether or not your pulm HTN is well controlled. Unfortunately, most physicians are not well equipped to diagnose or treat pulm HTN - even many pulmonologists. If possible, you should consider seeking out a specialist near you.