As a medical professional with expertise in respiratory health, I can explain that hypoxemia refers to a condition where there is a deficiency of oxygen in the arterial blood. This can occur for various reasons, such as lung disease, high altitude, or certain heart conditions. Mild hypoxemia is a classification of this condition where the partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood (PaO2) is between 60 to 79 mm Hg. This level of oxygen is lower than the normal range, which is typically considered to be around 80 to 100 mm Hg for adults at sea level, but it is not severe enough to cause immediate medical emergencies. However, it can still lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and in some cases, it may require supplemental oxygen or other interventions to improve oxygenation. It's important to note that hypoxemia is a serious condition that should be evaluated by a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and the appropriate treatment. read more >>

If the patient is hypoxemic, the low oxygen content in his blood will be reflected in low PaO2 and SaO2 values. Mild hypoxemia is defined as a PaO2 of 60 to 79 mm Hg; moderate hypoxemia, 40 to 59 mm Hg; and severe hypoxemia, less than 40 mm Hg.read more >>