Pulse oximeters are digital tools that measure the saturation of oxygen transported to the blood cells. A pulse oximeter can be connected to your fingers, forehead, nose, foot, ears, or toes. Some models are reusable some are single use. They can be used in a medical setting or at home by the patient to self monitor.
Oxygen saturation can drop for many factors and reasons, comprising:
- Suffocation
- Inhaling toxic chemicals
- Heart failure
- Allergic reactions
- General anesthesia
- Sleep apnea
- Infections, such as pneumonia
The pulse oximeter is used to estimate the capacity of oxygen in the blood without the need to collect a blood sample from the patient.
How does it work?
A pulse oximeter is a wearable device this is generally put on a fingertip. It determines the oxygen saturation of the blood and the heartbeat rate. Knowing the patients oxygen level can provide insight into the condition of heart and lungs. It can also be used to help diagnose symptoms that can lead to chronic lung disease or heart failure.
Most pulse oximeters display two or three numbers. The maximum reading of oxygen saturation level, is generally abbreviated SpO2 and is provided as a percentage. The pulse rate (just like coronary heart rate) is abbreviated PR. Oxygen saturation values are among 95% and 100% in healthful individuals, however, sometimes may decrease in patients with lung problems.
It is useful to capture data from the pulse oximeter of a period of time, so you can monitor the patients oxygen levels and notice if it is lower or higher than earlier measurements.
Advantages:
- Pulse oximeters are beneficial for patients who have health issues and need blood oxygen levels measured periodically.
- Pulse oximetry also aids in monitoring and investigating into certain health conditions.
- Monitor oxygen saturation over a period of time.
- Proves an alert if oxygen levels are low, which is very useful when dealing with newborns with cardiac congenital heart disorder (CCHD)
- Offer peace of mind to patients with continual respiration or cardiovascular situations
- You can easily assess the need for supplemental oxygen.
Types of Pulse Oximeters
There are two types of pulse oximeters that are available for measuring oxygen levels.
1: Prescription based oximeters
Prescription oximeters are the simplest and operated with a prescription. These are the most customarily practiced in hospitals and doctors’ offices, although they’ll once in a while be prescribed for domestic use.
2: Over-the-counter (OTC) oximeters
They are provided directly to customers via pharmacies, online stores, and with apps developed specifically to measure oxygen saturation. Using OTC oximeters has expanded because of the covid pandemic.
