hypoxemia

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hypoxemia

medical condition

Also known as: hypoxemic hypoxia

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Hypoxemia is a medical condition characterized by a deficiency of oxygen in the blood. This means there isn't enough oxygen being carried by the blood to the body's tissues.12

There are four main types of hypoxia, which is a broader term for oxygen deficiency in tissues:
* Hypoxemic: Low oxygen pressure in the blood, often due to breathing thin air at high altitudes or lung issues that prevent efficient oxygen transfer.3
* Anemic: Insufficient functional hemoglobin to carry adequate oxygen, seen in anemia or after significant blood loss.3
* Stagnant: Reduced or uneven blood flow to tissues, potentially caused by heart disease or shock.3
* Histotoxic: Body cells are unable to utilize oxygen, even if blood levels are normal, often due to poisoning.3

Diseases affecting the blood, heart, circulation, or lungs can lead to various forms of hypoxia.3

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

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blood disease
Polycythemia
…with air) may produce chronic hypoxemia (reduced oxygen tension in the blood) and lead to polycythemia. Extreme obesity also may severely impair pulmonary ventilation and thereby cause polycythemia (pickwickian syndrome).
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…with air) may produce chronic hypoxemia (reduced oxygen tension in the blood) and lead to polycythemia. Extreme obesity also may severely impair pulmonary ventilation and thereby cause polycythemia (pickwickian syndrome).
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hypoxia
…distinguished in medicine: (1) the hypoxemic type, in which the oxygen pressure in the blood going to the tissues is too low to saturate the hemoglobin; (2) the anemic type, in which the amount of functional hemoglobin is too small, and hence the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen…
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…distinguished in medicine: (1) the hypoxemic type, in which the oxygen pressure in the blood going to the tissues is too low to saturate the hemoglobin; (2) the anemic type, in which the amount of functional hemoglobin is too small, and hence the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen…
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respiratory disease
Pulmonary emphysema
Chronic hypoxemia (lowered oxygen tension) often occurs in severe emphysema and leads to the development of increased blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation, which in turn leads to failure of the right ventricle of the heart. The symptoms and signs of right ventricular failure include swelling…
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Chronic hypoxemia (lowered oxygen tension) often occurs in severe emphysema and leads to the development of increased blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation, which in turn leads to failure of the right ventricle of the heart. The symptoms and signs of right ventricular failure include swelling…
Read More