can anyone tell me why one of the symptoms for a low pulse ox (lets say 86%) is tachycardia? if your heart beats increase wouldn’t you get more oxygen to your tissues?
If you’re asking if one of the consequences of a low pulse ox is tachycardia – well, it does make sense that the body will respond to low tissue perfusion by attempting to increase peripheral oxygen delivery, one mechanism of which is by increasing the heart rate (which may well go into tachycardic ranges, depending on your definition of what tachycardia is).
If you’re asking if one of the causes of a low pulse ox is tachycardia – perhaps the concept under concern is that of a tachyarrhythmia (eg. rapid atrial fibrillation or SVT), where an abnormal heart rhythm causes the heart rate to go abnormally fast – normal hearts may cope allright with this, but hearts that have poor reserve (eg. those with coronary artery disease) may well suffer an impaired cardiac output as a result – this can of course result in poor peripheral perfusion, hence a low pulse ox.
Hope that helps!
If you’re asking if one of the consequences of a low pulse ox is tachycardia – well, it does make sense that the body will respond to low tissue perfusion by attempting to increase peripheral oxygen delivery, one mechanism of which is by increasing the heart rate (which may well go into tachycardic ranges, depending on your definition of what tachycardia is).
If you’re asking if one of the causes of a low pulse ox is tachycardia – perhaps the concept under concern is that of a tachyarrhythmia (eg. rapid atrial fibrillation or SVT), where an abnormal heart rhythm causes the heart rate to go abnormally fast – normal hearts may cope allright with this, but hearts that have poor reserve (eg. those with coronary artery disease) may well suffer an impaired cardiac output as a result – this can of course result in poor peripheral perfusion, hence a low pulse ox.
Hope that helps!
References :