OXIMETER, A LIFE SAVER IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

What is a pulse oximeter?

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A pulse oximeter or oxygen saturation meter is a non-invasive device that measures the oxygen saturation of the blood without the need for a physical blood sample.

It does this by sending infrared light into capillaries in your fingers, toes, or earlobes. Next, it measures how much light is reflected from the gases.

This device is highly recommended by medical personnel thanks to its great usefulness, in addition to the fact that it can be used by anyone due to its great ease of use.

There are pediatric oximeters, digital oximeters, neonatal oximeters and many others.

Home use oximeters are small and battery operated. Monitoring the level of oxygen in the blood can save time on visits to the doctor and is of great help to maintain an active life in those who suffer from a respiratory disease. Its use is recommended for people who suffer from sleep apnea or chronic respiratory illness.

 

Did you know that the Oximeter can save you from death from COVID-19?

Monitoring blood oxygenation is extremely important for the early detection of COVID-19. With this device you can perform a daily checkup to see if everything is in order. If your blood shows oxygenation below 90%, you should go to the doctor.

The COVID-19 disease is treatable and with very good prospects if it is detected in its early stages, do not forget to monitor your health and read the official recommendations, among which you will find this, monitoring with an Oximeter.

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When is it necessary to use a pulse oximeter?

The oximeter (also known as a pulse oximeter) is essential when a positive diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 has been received. Molecular diagnosis through PCR is the most reliable test. If your COVID 19 test result It's positive, a pulse oximeter will become your best friend. It is necessary to use it to check how efficiently the heart pumps oxygen through the body.

On the other hand, some patients are advised to use an oximeter regularly to monitor blood oxygen saturation levels, which could often be affected by existing respiratory or cardiac problems. If this is the case, a pulse oximeter should be on hand to check oxygenation, when necessary.

Some of the medical conditions that can affect blood oxygen saturation levels include:

  • Covid-19
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Lung cancer
  • Asthma
  • Heart attack
  • Congenital heart defects (birth defects)
  • Pneumonia

In these cases, monitoring your blood oxygen level can help determine if treatments are working, or if they should be adjusted.

Most children and adults do not need to monitor their blood oxygen level. In fact, many doctors won't check you unless you show signs of a problem, such as difficulty breathing or chest pain.

How to use a pulse oximeter?

The device is placed on the finger, which is where there is greater microcirculation. In this way, by passing polarized light through the finger, the red blood cells circulating through the body can be measured and how much hemoglobin is circulating can be interpreted and the oxygen saturation in the patient's blood calculated.

What important clinical information does an oximeter provide?

A pulse oximeter can give relevant information about two vital signs. This device measures two things:

Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2): consists of the measurement that indicates what percentage of blood the patient is saturating. To simplify it, it is an estimate of the amount of oxygen carried by red blood cells.

Pulse Rate: This is nothing but the heart rate or the number of times a heart beats per minute.

How to read oxygenation levels?

A reading indicates what percentage of your blood is saturated, known as the SpO2 level. This test has a margin of error of 2 percent. This means the reading may be up to 2 percent higher or lower than your actual blood oxygen level.

This test may be slightly less accurate than an arterial blood gas, but it is very easy for doctors to perform. So doctors rely on it for quick readings.

Conditions such as dark nail polish or cold extremities can cause the pulse oximeter reading to be lower than normal. Your doctor may remove any polish from your nails before using the device or when the reading seems abnormally low.

Because the pulse oximeter is non-invasive, you can perform this test. You can buy a pulse oximeter at most stores that sell health-related products or online. Talk to your doctor before using a home device so you understand how to interpret the results.

How to interpret the results of an oximeter?

The first thing you should do is follow the instructions on how to properly position the oximeter. Most oximeters are for the finger, so with them there shouldn't be as much problem or confusion when placing them.

Then look at the screen. It should show you two numbers: one labeled “PR” and one labeled “SpO2.” The first label, “PR,” represents the pulse rate and tells you how many times your heart beats per minute. And the second label, “SpO2”, is an abbreviation that means oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry.

Once the numbers appear on the screen, write them down where you will keep your record (it is best to do it in a notebook). Additionally, you must write down the date and time the reading was done.

Normal readings on a saturometer should typically range between 95 and 100 percent. Values ​​below 90 percent are considered low (hypoxemia) and indicate the need for supplemental oxygen. Its symptoms include severe shortness of breath, increased heart rate and chest pain.

Most people need a minimum oxygen saturation level of 89% for their cells to stay healthy. Having lower levels of oxygen saturation in the blood for a short period of time is considered harmless. However, if this happens frequently, it can damage or cause excessive strain on the body's cells. If your oxygen level is low, you may be told to use supplemental (additional) oxygen.