The pulse oximeter is a small light device used to measure the oxygen level (oxygen saturation) of the blood. It is an easy and painless measure of how well oxygen is being sent to parts of your body furthest from your heart, such as your arms and legs. Typically more than 89% of your blood should be carrying oxygen.
A reading of 94% to 99% indicates normal oxygen saturation. Anything below 90% is considered to be low blood oxygen levels. 99% is a good reading which means there is excellent oxygenation in your blood.
Why might I need a pulse oximeter?
It is a useful device in assessing patients with lung disease, that can be caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Low oxygen saturation levels can be a sign of COVID-19. The logic behind it is that shortness of breath a symptom of the disease, may not be easy or even possible for a person to reasonably self-assess. Whats more, is that according to a study by Yale Medicine, doctors report that some COVID-19 patients suddenly develop a condition called silent hypoxia, where people look and feel comfortable and dont notice any shortness of breath but their oxygen levels are dangerously low. It happens to patients both in the hospital and at home, but it is a particular problem in the latter case because the symptom may indicate severe COVID 19 related pneumonia, requiring a ventilator. Thats why some people may want or need to monitor their oxygen-saturation levels at home.
How to use:
It is a clip-like device called a probe which is placed on a body part, such as a finger or ear-lobe. The probe uses light to measure how much oxygen is in the blood. Just clip it onto your finger to measure heart-rate and oxygen levels in your red blood cells.