A comprehensive guide to pulse oximeters

 

What is a pulse oximeter?

A pulse oximeter is a small device that quickly and painlessly measures the oxygen saturation level (SpO2) in your blood and your pulse rate (heart beats per minute). Portable and easy to use, it clips comfortably on your fingertip. The reading of your oxygen saturation levels and heart rate are displayed on the LED screen of the device.

Pulse oximeters are used by medical professionals who need a quick and easy method of measuring SpO2 levels and pulse rates. They are widely used in hospitals and healthcare clinics to assess the health status of people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, lungs disorders and heart diseases. They are also used by people who participate in sports activities – they can help you to see how your oxygen intake changes before and after a workout as well as how the exercise affected your heart rate.

More recently, they have become a popular medical device to monitor oxygen levels of people with the COVID 19 infection, as they may be experiencing breathing issues and lower oxygen levels in the blood.

What is pulse oximetry and how does it work?

Pulse oximetry measures the percentage of oxygen in red blood cells, called oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation usually indicates how much oxygen is getting to our organs. Normal oxygen saturation levels are between 95 and 100 percent. Oxygen saturation levels below 92 percent can indicate potential hypoxemia, which is a seriously low level of oxygen in the blood.

Fingertip pulse oximeters measure how much red light and infra-red light comes through the tissue of your finger to estimate how many of your blood cells are carrying oxygen. This reading is called oxygen saturation, or SpO2, and displays a percentage. The pulse oximeter will tell you your oxygen saturation levels along with your heart rate.

Benefits of a fingertip pulse oximeter

• Small, lightweight and portable – It is lightweight and portable which makes it convenient to monitor your health on the go.
• Multiple functions – It displays SpO2 (oxygen saturation percentage) and heart rate in beats per minute on a LED screen.
• Paediatric to adult use – It has a wide user range and can work on paediatric to adult users.
• Fast readings – It provides accurate readings usually within 10 seconds, perfect for spot checks.
• Easy to use – It has a simple design and you simply clip your finger onto the device. Because it is easy to use, it is a handy device to have to monitor health conditions at home.
• Low power consumption – A power source is not required.

Who will benefit from using a pulse oximeter?

Pulse oximeters are useful for a range of people including people who have conditions that affect oxygen saturation and those who want to monitor the intensity of their sports activities. They include people who:

Have a respiratory condition – Using a pulse oximeter at home offers peace of mind for people who have chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions such as asthma, chronic lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure or a previous health attack. People with these conditions may experience low SpO2 levels and a pulse oximeter can help them monitor their conditions and use supplementary oxygen when required.Participate in sports activities – Normal healthy adults use a pulse oximeter to monitor heart rate and oxygen saturation during certain types of sports activities or high-altitude mountain activities. Pilots, mountain climbers and people in high altitudes use pulse oximeters to help them guard against hypoxia.

Have a Covid-19 infection – People with severe cases of Covid-19 are known to experience shortness of breath after a few days which consequently results in extremely low levels of oxygen in the blood. A pulse oximeter can help to monitor whether people with a Covid-19 infection require supplemental oxygen or health care support. It is useful for those who are recovering from a Covid-19 infection at home and, in some cases, have been supplied as part of a Covid-19 home-care package. Please note that a pulse oximeter reading cannot indicate a Covid-19 infection.