What might result from lower oxygen levels in a patient?

Lower oxygen levels in a patient can lead to confusion due to the brain's dependency on a steady supply of oxygen to function optimally. The brain is highly sensitive to changes in oxygen saturation; when oxygen levels drop, cognitive functions can be impaired, resulting in confusion, disorientation, or altered mental status. This is particularly relevant in conditions like hypoxia, where insufficient oxygen reaches the tissues, including the central nervous system.

While symptoms like nausea, headache, and fatigue can also occur as a result of low oxygen levels, they are generally less directly linked to the critical role oxygen plays in brain function compared to confusion. Altered mental status is a more immediate and severe consequence when oxygen deprivation occurs, making confusion a more recognizable and significant sign to monitor in patients experiencing low oxygen saturation.