Home Pulse Oximeter

01-05-2021 admin

During the coronavirus pandemic, Consumer Reports says, there’s sudden interest in home pulse oximeter devices, which might help monitor shortness of breath caused by COVID-19. Pulse oximeters with alarms settings can be used for continuous monitoring, home use for sleeping, on infants, pediatrics and adults. Alarms for pulse oximetry are configurable and have optional memory. Audible and visual alarms are for oxygen saturation and heart rate. Zacurate Premium 500E Sporting/Aviation Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation.

Cvs Pulse Oximeter
Pulse Oximeter For Home Use

To survive, we need oxygen going from our lungs to the cells in our body. Sometimes the amount of oxygen in our blood can fall below normal levels. Asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the flu, and COVID-19 are some of the health issues that may cause oxygen levels to drop. When the levels are too low, we may need to take extra oxygen, known as oxygen therapy.

One way to get extra oxygen into the body is by using an oxygen concentrator. Oxygen concentrators are medical devices required to be sold and used only with a prescription.

You should not use an oxygen concentrator at home unless it has been prescribed by a health care provider. Giving yourself oxygen without talking to a doctor first may do more harm than good. You may end up taking too much or too little oxygen. Deciding to use an oxygen concentrator without a prescription can lead to serious health problems, such as oxygen toxicity caused by receiving too much oxygen. It can also lead to a delay in receiving treatment for serious conditions like COVID-19.

Even though oxygen makes up about 21 percent of the air around us, breathing high concentrations of oxygen may damage your lungs. On the other hand, not getting enough oxygen into the blood, a condition called hypoxia, could damage the heart, brain, and other organs.

Find out if you really need oxygen therapy by checking with your health care provider. If you do, your health care provider can determine how much oxygen you should take and for how long.

What do I need to know about oxygen concentrators?

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Oxygen concentrators take in air from the room and filter out nitrogen. The process provides the higher amounts of oxygen needed for oxygen therapy.

Concentrators may be large and stationary or small and portable. Concentrators are different than tanks or other containers supplying oxygen because they use electrical pumps to concentrate the continuous supply of oxygen that comes from the surrounding air.

You may have seen oxygen concentrators for sale online without a prescription. At this time, the FDA has not approved or cleared any oxygen concentrators to be sold or used without a prescription.

When using an oxygen concentrator:

Do not use the concentrator, or any oxygen product, near an open flame or while smoking.
Place the concentrator in an open space to reduce chances of device failure from overheating.
Do not block any vents on the concentrator since it may impact device performance.
Periodically check your device for any alarms to make sure you are getting enough oxygen.

If you are prescribed an oxygen concentrator for chronic health problems and have changes in your breathing or oxygen levels, or have symptoms of COVID-19, call your health care provider. Do not make changes to the oxygen levels on your own.

How are my oxygen levels monitored at home?

Oxygen levels are monitored with a small device called a pulse oximeter, or pulse ox.

Pulse oximeters are usually placed on a fingertip. The devices use beams of light to indirectly measure the level of oxygen in the blood without having to draw a blood sample.

What do I need to know about pulse oximeters?

As with any device, there is always a risk of an inaccurate reading. The FDA issued a safety communication in 2021 informing patients and health care providers that although pulse oximetry is useful for estimating blood oxygen levels, pulse oximeters have limitations and a risk of inaccuracy under certain circumstances that should be considered. Multiple factors can affect the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading, such as poor circulation, skin pigmentation, skin thickness, skin temperature, current tobacco use, and use of fingernail polish. Over-the-counter oximeters that you can buy at the store or online do not undergo FDA review and are not intended for medical purposes.

If you are using a pulse oximeter to monitor your oxygen levels at home and are concerned about the reading, contact a health care provider. Do not rely only on a pulse oximeter. It also is important to keep track of your symptoms or how you feel. Contact a health care provider if your symptoms are serious or get worse.

To get the best reading when using a pulse oximeter at home:

Follow your health care provider’s advice about when and how often to check your oxygen levels.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
When placing the oximeter on your finger, make sure your hand is warm, relaxed, and held below the level of the heart. Remove any fingernail polish on that finger.
Sit still and do not move the part of your body where the pulse oximeter is located.
Wait a few seconds until the reading stops changing and displays one steady number.
Write down your oxygen level and the date and time of the reading so you can track any changes and report these to your health care provider.

Be familiar with other signs of low oxygen levels:

Bluish coloring in the face, lips, or nails;
Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or a cough that gets worse;
Restlessness and discomfort;
Chest pain or tightness;
Fast/racing pulse rate;
Be aware that some people with low oxygen levels may not show any or all of these symptoms. Only a health care provider can diagnose a medical condition such as hypoxia (low oxygen levels).

Reporting Problems with a Device

If you experienced a problem or injury that you think may be related to a pulse oximeter or oxygen concentrator, you can voluntarily report it through the FDA’s MedWatch program.

Regulated Product(s)
Topic(s)

A pulse oximeter is a small device that can measure the oxygen saturation in your blood.
Pulse oximetry is useful for people with chronic lung or heart conditions, who need to monitor how well oxygen is being sent from the heart and lungs out to the furthest parts of the body.
To use a pulse oximeter, you'll clip the device on your toe, finger, or earlobe — here's to use it properly so you can get an accurate reading.
This article was medically reviewed by Jason R. McKnight, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine.

A pulse oximeter is a small device that typically clips on to your finger, toe, or earlobe to measure oxygen levels in the blood.

Pulse oximetry is a quick and easy way to determine how well oxygen is being sent from the heart and lungs out to the furthest parts of the body, which can help determine if your heart and lungs are functioning properly.

Pulse oximeters can be used to gauge warning signs for chronic lung or heart conditions, and may help determine whether you should seek medical attention for the coronavirus.

Here's what you need to know about what exactly a pulse oximeter measures, how it works, and how you can use it properly.

What does a pulse oximeter measure?

A pulse oximeter measures the oxygen saturation of your blood. Essentially, this percentage is a calculation of how much oxygen is in the blood, with 100% being 'fully saturated' and the optimal level.

And while this simple non-invasive medical tool is available over the counter in many pharmacies, it's not necessary for most people.

'Unless you have a chronic heart or lung condition that affects your oxygen saturation on a regular basis, most individuals don't need one in their home,' says Albert Rizzo, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association.

Those with lung or heart conditions — such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure — may be prescribed home oxygen therapy by their doctor, says Rizzo, and a pulse oximeter can help them to monitor whether the use of oxygen at home is improving their condition or not.

Pulse oximeters have also been used to indicate severe cases of COVID-19. That's because the coronavirus can cause a decrease in blood oxygen levels — though if this occurs, it's likely that you'll recognize other symptoms before needing to use a pulse oximeter.

Cvs Pulse Oximeter

In fact, Rizzo says that oxygen saturation by itself is often not the best indicator of medical conditions, and other symptoms are just as important to tell your doctor.

Other warning signs of low blood oxygen levels may include:

Increased heart rate
increased breathing rate
Feeling shortness of breath or gasping for air
Inability to do an activity that you did before without getting out of breath

For everyday health, you shouldn't rely on pulse oximeter readings alone, says William Berry, Research Scientist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The oximeter numbers are only estimates of your blood oxygen levels — and they should be taken in context.

How does a pulse oximeter work?

To get the most accurate reading on a pulse oximeter, there are a few simple steps, according to the World Health Organization:

Position the probe correctly. Depending on the device, this will usually be on the finger, toe, or earlobe. Make sure it is well-fitted, and not being forced on: for example, try the second toe rather than the big toe. If the probe is too loose or too tight, it may allow extra light in, which will impact the reading.
Make sure you're sitting still. Shaking or shivering will affect the reading, and may make it seem much lower than it actually is.
Remove any nail polish. If you're wearing colored nail polish, this might affect the reading. Finger tattoos or henna dye can also affect the reading: in this case, choose a different finger, toe, or earlobe. Cold fingers or toes can also cause false readings.

There are many types of pulse oximeters, which come with varying features and are sold at a range of prices, so you'll want to find the best pulse oximeter for your purposes.

Pulse Oximeter For Home Use

A 2016 comparison between the accuracy of the pocket or standard pulse oximeter found that the standard oximeter had a precision error of 1.8%, while the pocket version showed 2.21% error. One 2018 study of pulse oximeters used in heart patients suggested that earlobe probes had greater accuracy.

If you think your pulse oximeter might not be accurate, Rizzo suggests checking the pulse reading or heart rate on the pulse oximeter against your own reading of your pulse.

How to read a pulse oximeter

According to WHO, a reading of 95% to 100% on the pulse oximeter is considered healthy and isn't a cause for concern.

If you have no underlying medical conditions, your levels should generally be at 95 or higher. But for people with chronic conditions, it's important to talk with your doctor about what the appropriate reading should be for you, and when you should seek medical attention.

For reference, lower levels of blood oxygen saturation may indicate:

Blocked airways
Difficulty breathing
Lung infection
Poor blood circulation
Drug interference from anesthesia, muscle relaxants, or anaphylaxis

In addition, if your pulse oximeter reading drops during exercise, Rizzo says it can be a sign of an underlying lung or heart condition and you should speak with your doctor.

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