However, this is not always so simple. A phenomenon known as “happy hypoxia”, recently highlighted by the health ministry, can prevent people from realising their condition is worsening until they are at a late stage of the disease and need urgent respiratory assistance.
It is a problem with a deceptively optimistic name, and FMT has decided to take a look at the condition and get an expert’s take on its decidedly unhappy implications.
What is hypoxia?
Hypoxia refers to low blood oxygen saturation. If the oxygen concentration in the blood is low, areas of the body that rely on oxygen (i.e. all of it) can be negatively affected, as cells are deprived of an essential component they need to function.
According to Dr Nurul Yaqeen, an internal and respiratory specialist, this can be brought on by Covid-19 due to the effect the virus has on a patient’s lungs.
“Covid-19 can cause lung inflammation, and this impairs the gas exchange process in the lungs, hence causing low oxygen levels in the blood. Low blood oxygen levels can cause organ damage and may subsequently lead to death,” she said.
What’s ‘happy’ about it?
In reality, nothing. Typically, hypoxia can be identified through a number of symptoms, some of which include shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing and an accelerated heartbeat.
“In normal situations, when someone is experiencing hypoxia, the body’s receptors will sense the low oxygen levels, and will stimulate accessory muscles of respiration – such as the intercostal muscles, the sternocleidomastoid muscles or the scalene muscle – to act and help our body get more oxygen and make us breathe faster,” said Nurul.
“In the case of those with ‘happy hypoxia’, the respiratory muscles will not do the extra work to compensate; it will be as if the receptors are numb. As a result, the patient will deteriorate without panting and without being noticed, because they are not manifesting the signs and symptoms of someone with a low oxygen level.”
A lack of oxygen in one’s blood requires urgent medical attention and the patient needs to be put on a ventilator to restore their blood oxygen levels to normal.
“When a Covid-19 patient’s hypoxia goes unnoticed, that explains why they are brought in dead to the hospital, or brought to the hospital at a late stage where it’s too late to save them.”
While the health ministry has only recently highlighted the phenomenon, there have been discussions in other countries about it dating back to the early days of the pandemic.
Although it is not unique to Covid-19 patients, “happy hypoxia” has been identified more often in those suffering from the disease than with other respiratory illnesses.
So what can be done?
“Normal” blood oxygen concentration is between 94% and 99%. Anything lower suggests an underlying problem responsible for the abnormality.
“It is advisable for Covid-19 patients to check their oxygen level regularly, at least every four hours. Normal, healthy people can also check their oxygen level if they’re feeling breathless, to make sure they have enough oxygen in their body.
“Regular home oxygen monitoring can be done by using a pulse oximeter device that can be found at your nearest pharmacy,” Nurul said.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DATA ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA