You might have perused in the news that having a pulse oximeter at home is helpful, beneficial and practical. We’ve looked at why, when and how you would utilise one.
What is a pulse oximeter?
A pulse oximeter measures how much oxygen the haemoglobin in your blood is carrying. This reading is called the oxygen saturation (SpO2) and is shown as a percentage. People with lung conditions may have lower blood oxygen levels than normal so a pulse oximeter can help to see if oxygen levels drop below safe levels and there’s a problem.
Ok I get all that What is it though?
Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive test that measures the oxygen saturation level of your blood.
It can rapidly detect even small changes in oxygen levels. These levels show how efficiently blood is carrying oxygen to the extremities furthest from your heart, including your arms and legs.
The pulse oximeter is a small, clip-like device. It attaches to a body part, most commonly to a finger.
Medical professionals often use them in critical care settings like emergency rooms or hospitals. Some doctors, such as pulmonologists, may use them in office settings. You can even use one at home.
How does a pulse oximeter work?
It works by measuring how much light is absorbed by the blood. The pulse oximeter shines a light through your fingertip. It then measures how much light is absorbed by the body and uses this measurement to calculate the percentage of oxygen in your blood.
How to use a pulse oximeter?
Firstly, inert your finger into the oximeter. Make sure it is well positioned and not too tight or too loose. Nail varnish, dirt or pigment on the finger, like henna, may affect the reading as the colour can absorb the light emitted from the oximeter. Remove nail varnish or use a finger without pigment on it. It’s not recommended to use your oximeter in bright sunshine or light as it could disrupt the infrared sensor.
How to read a pulse oximeter?
The oximeter display will show the percentage of oxygen in your blood, for someone who is healthy the saturation level will be around 95-100%. Some models will also show your heart rate (pulse frequency)
Which finger is best for a pulse oximeter?
You can use an oximeter on any finger, but the NHS recommends the middle or index finger. Keep it in place for at least a minute, as it takes time for the reading to steady.
OK – Cut to the Chase Doctor Essentials, how much and where do I get them.
Types of pulse oximeter
There are several different types of pulse oximeter, falling into two broad camps:
- Continuous monitoring devices (wrist, handheld or table-top devices) – used for taking readings over extended periods, such as during surgery or with patients on life-support systems. They include configurable alarms to indicate when SpO2 and/or pulse rate exceed a specified limit.
- Spot-check devices (usually fingertip oximeters) – used where taking fast, accurate readings is the primary concern.
While pulse oximetry has been a standard of care in hospitals for decades, home spot-checks with fingertip devices has become more common in chronic conditions that affect
SpO2, such as COPD, while the dangers of “silent hypoxia” during Covid-19 infection have also seen the popularity of fingertip devices for home use soar.
Doctor Essentials recommends ADC’s DIAGNOSTIX Medical Grade Fingertip Pulse Oximeter. A Compact, multi-featured, highly accurate adult pulse oximeter. You can buy it here
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