Hypoxemia vs Hypoxia

Welcome to Respiratory HQ! I'm Tonya Piehl, and today we’re tackling a foundational concept in respiratory care: the difference between hypoxemia and hypoxia. Whether you're preparing for your NBRC exam or working through clinical scenarios, understanding this distinction is critical. Too often, these terms are used interchangeably, but they represent very different physiological issues — one in the blood, the other at the tissue level. In this video, we’ll break it all down: Definitions and examples of hypoxemia and hypoxia Normal and abnormal PaO₂ ranges The 4 types of hypoxia using the H.A.S.H. acronym How to determine responsive vs refractory hypoxemia Clinical conditions and treatments linked to each type 💡 If you’re a respiratory therapy student or educator, this is a must-know concept for both the TMC and CSE exams — and even more important at the bedside.