Want to know how to improve your oxygen level naturally?

The second wave of coronavirus in India has witnessed the need for oxygen the most. It is observed that the oxygen level drops faster in COVID-19 patients, once the saturation level comes below 94 percent. And the massive need for oxygen supplies has unfortunately led to a shortage of oxygen across various states. The Health Ministry of India has advised to continuously monitor the oxygen level of COVID-19 patients and only put them on oxygen support when their saturation level comes below 94 percent. So we must learn how to maintain our oxygen level.

What are the natural ways to improve your oxygen level?

It is known that the COVID-19 virus is adversely affecting our lungs, which in turn leads to low levels of oxygen. So if you are detected positive with a mild case of COVID-19, you should follow proper self-treating methods at home. This majorly includes taking steam inhalation, eating vitamin and protein-rich food, and checking your oxygen and heart rate level with the help of an oximeter. Some of the natural methods that can help improve your oxygen level are:

Proning

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare proning is a method that can help people to breathe better.It is a process of turning patients with precise and safe motions, from their back onto their abdomen. So the patient has to lie face down on their abdomen. This process has proven useful to improve oxygenation and is seen to be beneficial for COVID-19 patients.

This is one of the best methods to practice during your home isolation period. For self-proning, you can use four to five pillows. One pillow below your neck, two below your chest, and two below the shins. You can also change your position every 30 minutes to 2 hours. Some of the body positions to improve your oxygen level are prone position (lying on belly), right lateral position (lying on your right side), left lateral (lying on your left side), and fowler position (sitting up 60-90°).

However, there are certain precautions to be followed while you practice proning, like avoid doing it for an hour after your meals, adjust the pillows based on your comfort level, and practice it only for the amount of time tolerable for you.

In addition to this any form of energetic exercise that makes you breathe more quickly is, in essence, a breathing exercise. This includes brisk walking, running, swimming, or any activity that increases heart rate and breathing rate.

Stay hydrated:

One must drink filtered water to get the full benefits of oxygenation. So ensure that you make a habit of drinking water throughout the day. Also remember that caffeinated beverages, alcohol, and food with high sodium can dehydrate the body, so it’s best to avoid consuming them.

Change your diet:

It is important to consume foods that include antioxidants as they allow the body to use oxygen more efficiently. Red cabbage, beans, beet root, strawberries are some antioxidant-rich fruits that can be consumed in the form of juices or smoothies.

Be active:

Even a 30 minutes’ walk every day, can help the body to utilize oxygen in a better way. So practicing simple exercises or walking for some time can improve your oxygen level and also enhance your mood.

We at Apollo Diagnostics, provide complete COVID care, right from conducting the RT- PCR test to providing COVID care packages that include COVID Care Screening, COVID Care Check, and COVID Care Follow-up. We also conduct the tests like COVID Antigen, Spike Protein Antibody test, and more to ensure your well-being.