Hypoxemia occurs when blood somehow passes from the right ventricle into the left ventricle without being fully oxygenated. This generally occurs in one of two ways: Ventilation-perfusion mismatch (V-Q mismatch) : Some parts of the lung have excess ventilation, whereas other parts have inadequate ventilation.

The names sound similar because they both involve a lack of oxygen but in different parts of your body. Hypoxia is low oxygen levels in the tissues and hypoxemia is low oxygen levels in the blood. Hypoxia is often caused by hypoxemia but not always. You can be hypoxic but not hypoxemic and vice versa.

All rights reserved. hy·pox·e·mi·a ( hī'pok-sē'mē-ă ), Subnormal oxygenation of arterial blood, short of anoxia. [hypo- + oxygen, + G. haima, blood] Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012 hypoxemia (hī′pŏk-sē′mē-ə) n. Insufficient oxygenation of the blood.

Hypoxemia Symptoms. Symptoms of hypoxemia can differ for each person; however, some common signs include rapid heart rate, coughing, sweating, fast breathing, changes in skin color (such as blue or red), and mental confusion. If you have more than one of these symptoms, consider seeking medical attention right away.

If the amount of oxygen in the blood gets abnormally low, the rest of the body cannot function appropriately, this is referred to as sleep-related hypoxemia. While asleep, blood oxygen levels typically remain between 95 and 100 percent; however, if levels fall below 90 percent, hypoxemia occurs.