What is a Fingertip Pulse Oximeter?
A Pulse Oximeter is a device that is used to quickly and easily monitor a person’s oxygen saturation.
This means that is can measure the level of oxygen within the blood, specifically in arterial blood without using any invasive means.
A fingertip pulse oximeter works by shining a light onto the blood vessels in your fingernail and measuring the color of your blood. Blood carrying a lot of oxygen is bright red, whereas blood with lower levels of oxygen becomes more bluish/purple in color. By measuring the color, you can get an idea of how well oxygenated your blood is.
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How Does a Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Work?
Pulse oximeters work on a simple but brilliant principle. Blood absorbs light, and there’s a distinct difference between the wavelengths that go through oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood.
The finger clip of a pulse oximeter consists of a transmitting light source that emits a broad spectrum of light. On the other end, there’s a receiver that measures how much light passes through.
The diode on the receiving end is capable of detecting the wavelength of light. The internal circuits and processing components of the pulse oximeter do some calculations as well.
The device has to compensate for the ambient light, finger size, and the absorbance of the rest of the tissues.
There’s a reference curve saved in the memory of the device to calibrate the incoming readings and normalize them. This increases the precision of the results that it provides.
What Does a Pulse Oximeter Measure?
Pulse Oximeters measure the percentage of arterial oxygen primarily. In more precise terms, this is the amount of oxygen carried on blood hemoglobin. It’s known as SpO2.
Heart rate (HR) is automatically calculated alongside the percentage of oxygen.
HR and SpO2 complement one another, and clinicians find this double parameter readout quite informative.
How to Use a Pulse Oximeter?
Using a pulse oximeter is quite simple. You clip it on the middle right finger, a toe, or an earlobe. Some models are surface probes that you can attach to the forehead or chest.
Which Finger Is Best for a Pulse Oximeter?
The verdict came out that the middle finger of the right hand gives the best accuracy. The thumb of the same hand follows.
What are the Risks of Fingertip Pulse Oximeter?
Thankfully, there aren’t any risks or dangers of using a pulse oximeter. The biggest concern is making sure that the device is giving an accurate reading.
What are the Normal Ranges for a Pulse Oximeter?
Heart rate – 60-100 beats/min
Oxygen Saturation – 95-100%
Can a pulse oximeter detect COVID-19?
A pulse oximeter cannot detect COVID-19, however, it can help you monitor for signs and symptoms associated with the virus. Having a low blood oxygen level could be a sign of COVID-19, but it can also be a sign of other health issues that need to be discussed with your health care provider. Either way, if you are monitoring your blood oxygen levels at home with a pulse oximeter, contact your health care provider if your Sp02 drops below 90-95%.
— by Dr. Pristas
Should I monitor my blood oxygen levels at home?
There are some scenarios when your doctor might recommend you monitor your blood oxygen levels at home. If you have an underlying health condition, like heart or lung disease, or you are in the process of recovering from COVID-19, it could be helpful for you to keep an eye on your blood oxygen levels. However, if you do choose to monitor from home, talk to you doctor first about how to properly use the device, understand your reading and interpret the results. For example, if your hand is not steady during the reading you could see varying saturations from a faulty reading.
If you’re otherwise healthy, it’s not necessary to have a pulse oximeter or any other device to monitor your blood oxygen levels at home. If you’re unsure, ask your doctor for personal advice.
So choose a suitable fingertip pulse oximeter is necessary, it is not expensive and easy to get
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