Shortness of Breath: Causes, Chest Pain & Health Risks

What causes shortness of breath when walking, biking, or lying down? From low blood oxygen levels to vitamin insufficiencies, identifying the triggers for respiratory distress in teens and the elderly is essential.

What Are the Effects of Low Blood Oxygen Levels?

Published Aug,14 2017 | By Shannon Campbell

Blood carries oxygen to every cell in your body to allow them to live and function properly. Low blood oxygen levels -- known as hypoxemia -- typically refer to an oxygen level in your arteries less than 80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).