Pulse oximeters are useful medical devices that can tell you a lot about what is going on with your blood and how much oxygen it contains.
Using a pulse oximeter is something that is usually done at your doctor’s office or in the hospital.
However, for a variety of reasons, you might have to use one of these devices at home. If it is your first time using a pulse oximeter at home, you may not know what those readings are and what they mean. Read on to find out how to read a pulse oximeter.
Why Use a Pulse Oximeter?
If your doctor has advised you to keep track of your blood oxygen saturation levels using a pulse oximeter, it may be due to a number of reasons. Generally speaking, these devices are used to monitor the health, and specifically the blood oxygen saturation levels, of individuals with respiratory and other conditions.
If you have conditions or have suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer, anemia, heart attacks, and congenital heart defects, you may be advised to use a pulse oximeter to monitor blood oxygen saturation levels.
Examples of Pulse Oximeter Uses
You might be wondering when and why pulse oximeters are used, so let’s provide you with some quick examples.
- To determine whether or not someone needs help breathing through artificial assistance
- To determine if new lung and breathing medications are doing their job
- To keep track of oxygen levels, both during and after medical procedures
- To determine if a ventilator is helpful or not
- To determine a person’s ability to handle increased physical activity
- To determine if a person stops breathing momentarily, such as during a sleep apnea test
How Pulse Oximeters Work
Pulse oximeters are small devices, like little clamps, that are attached to the fingers, toes, or earlobes. These then shoot beams of light through the part of your body which they are attached. These beams of light measure how much light is absorbed by oxygenated or deoxygenated blood. Not only do pulse oximeters tell you how well saturated with oxygen your blood is, but they can tell you what your pulse is as well.
Pulse Oximeter Readings
Pulse oximeters are very easy to read, with the main number to look for being the level of blood oxygen saturation. This is measured in Sp02, and it is displayed as a percentage on the screen of the pulse oximeter, which can go from 0 to 100%.
In healthy adults that have no respiratory or other conditions, blood oxygen saturation levels should fall between 95% to 100%. Of course, 100% is the perfect score to get, and it indicates that your blood is perfectly saturated with oxygen; in other words, your red blood cells are working at full capacity and are delivering the maximum amount of oxygen possible throughout your body.
If the blood oxygen saturation level indicated by the pulse oximeter is between 90% and 94%, it means that you are slightly hypoxic. This means that your red blood cells are not working at full capacity and are not delivering the maximum amount of oxygen possible. This is often seen in people with mild respiratory conditions. This is usually a cause for concern, it requires constant monitoring, and may require additional oxygenation.
If your blood oxygen saturation levels fall below 90%, it is an indication that you are severely hypoxic, or your blood is not carrying nearly enough oxygen to sustain prolonged bodily functions. This is a cause for immediate concern and requires immediate medical attention, as it is a sign of a severe condition.
On a side note, seeing as pulse oximeters do also tell you what your heart rate is, it’s important to know that the normal heart beat range for healthy adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute.
What needs to be said is that it is thought that if your blood oxygen saturation levels temporarily fall below 90% for a short period of time, it should not cause any damage to your cells or organs.
However, repeat occurrences or prolonged periods where the blood oxygen saturation level is below 90% can be damaging to the body. Simply put, it means that your cells are not getting enough oxygen to function properly, which can damage them, and it’s a sign of a more serious underlying medical condition.
Conclusion
If you have any concerns about your blood oxygen saturation levels, it is best to seek medical assistance from a health care professional.