A pulse oximeter is a small device that clips onto your finger and monitors oxygen levels in the blood and costs around £30. They have been getting attention for their potential to help monitor symptoms of COVID-19 at home, but there are some caveats you should know about before rushing out to buy one.
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One of the many strange things about COVID-19 is that some patients with very low blood oxygen levels (which require medical treatment) aren’t always aware of it. They may not feel particularly unwell or have other symptoms of low oxygen levels.
This is where pulse oximeters can be helpful as they allow people to track their blood oxygen levels at home, and are an important preventative tool for certain groups.
They are used commonly in clinical settings, and have helped people with Long Covid (enduring post-viral symptoms), or those who are more vulnerable to the disease monitor themselves at home.
There’s currently a trial going on in England called ‘COVID oximetry @home,’ which supplies people in certain groups (Covid positive, symptomatic and 65 or older, symptomatic and under 65 but clinically vulnerable) with a pulse oximeter and instructs them on how to measure their blood oxygen levels at regular intervals, and communicate the readings to a doctor.
Some doctors are saying everyone should have them just in case, but others are more skeptical of their value for otherwise healthy people.
Used incorrectly, they may give inaccurate or poor readings, and it’s unwise to rely on them without wider diagnostic support from a medical professional.
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What does a pulse oximeter do?
A pulse oximeter measures your pulse and the percentage of oxygen in your blood, by shining a light into your finger.
Pulse oximeters are commonplace medical devices that have been used in some form since the 1970s. They are used most often by people with respiratory problems, and also sometimes by athletes and pilots who have to monitor blood oxygen levels.
They are mostly used for tests and monitoring in clinical settings, such as at the GP surgery or in hospital, but for specific groups of people (like those mentioned above), they are useful for home monitoring too.
According to the British Lung Foundation, the normal blood oxygen saturation level for someone who’s healthy will be around 95–100%. If the oxygen level is below this, it can be an indicator that there is a lung problem.
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A level below 92% (or 88% for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – COPD) would suggest someone is seriously ill and may need supplementary oxygen or to be monitored in hospital.
In the COVID oximetry @home scheme, patients reporting 93-94% blood oxygen are instructed to call the GP or 111 , and patients at 92% or below are told to go to A&E or call an ambulance.
Can a pulse oximeter diagnose COVID-19?
There has been some confusion over this, but the answer is no.
Premiere pro mac. A pulse oximeter may signal issues with blood oxygen levels, which could be related to coronavirus, but it’s only one part of a wider diagnostic picture.
Londonwide LMCs, a representative committee of NHS GPs in London, advises that: ‘pulse oximetry can be a useful aid to clinical decision-making but it is not a substitute for a clinical assessment, nor sufficient for diagnosis by itself.’
Should you buy a pulse oximeter?
If you don’t have any underlying respiratory issues and have never used one before, you may not need a pulse oximeter. It’s best to only use one if advised by your doctor.
Professor Chris Hui, clinical assistant professor at Hong Kong University and honorary consultant in respiratory and critical care medicine at the Royal Free Hospital London, says pulse oximeters can be useful monitoring and early-alert devices for self-monitoring at home. This is dependent on them being given to the right groups of patients, such as those who are vulnerable, prone to respiratory failure, suffer from a chronic respiratory condition, or require oxygen therapy at home.
Some doctors have now suggested buying one and testing your oxygen levels as a precaution, but the reading may be less useful without prior guidance from a medical professional, and if you haven’t used one before you may do it incorrectly or misinterpret the results.
Dr Andy Whittamore, clinical lead for Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, advised that ‘at this stage, while the use of pulse oximeters in response to COVID-19 is still being examined, it remains really important that before testing at home, people talk to their healthcare professional.’
He adds that ‘any monitoring done at home needs to be part of a clear management plan and is not a substitute for clinical advice. Anyone worried about their symptoms should speak to a doctor.’
As with many coronavirus-related products, demand for pulse oximeters has risen due to the publicity they have received, so be wary of unscrupulous sellers selling these devices online for inflated prices, or without proper safety certificates (approved medical devices in the UK must display a CE mark).
Pulse oximetry and racial bias
The independent NHS Race and and Health Observatory has published a rapid review into pulse oximeters, saying that readings for Black and Minority Ethnic people could be misleading.
The leader of the review, Olamide Dada, said:
“As this review clearly shows, more evidence is needed to examine the effectiveness of pulse oximeters for all patients. It is essential that clinicians and carers have full knowledge of diverse clinical signs when observing ethnic minority patients at risk of Covid-19, and particularly those using home devices.
More detailed analysis is needed to help determine the reliance on, and future development of, pulse oximetry devices going forward.”
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that pulse oximeters were more likely to record false readings for Black patients – recording a value in the ‘normal’ range when the person actually had lowered blood oxygen levels.
The report found incorrect readings in about 12% of all cases, happening to Black people about three times as much as white people.
This doesn’t mean that pulse oximeters are always useless for people with darker skin, but that more research is needed, and it’s important to read the results in context of symptoms and other diagnostic metrics.
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Using a pulse oximeter correctly
Professor Hui says that, although these devices are usually accurate, they need to be used correctly to yield the best information.
- They need to be held steady in place for 30 seconds – if there is a lot of movement, poor placement or insufficient time for the computer to calibrate, the readings may be difficult to interpret or inaccurate.
- Avoid nail varnish and false nails – these can block the light from the device getting to your blood and can affect the reading.
- Medical conditions – some, such as anaemia and Raynaud’s syndrome (where fingers are unusually cold) can affect the accuracy of readings.
Professor Hui adds that the quality of the tech inside oximeters – the quality of the LED diodes, photo detectors and quality of electronics – can also affect accuracy of readings.
Accuracy of the oximeter aside, the key is that it doesn’t tell you everything, so relying on it in place of medical advice could give you false reassurance or cause anxiety.
Can your fitness tracker or smartwatch double up as a pulse oximeter?
Some fitness trackers and smartwatches have a pulse oximetry function (often referred to as the SpO2 sensor), but you shouldn’t rely on this reading, as it’s intended for recreational rather than medical purposes.
Popular smartwatch brand Garmin says that knowing your oxygen saturation can help you determine how your body is acclimatising to high altitudes (for alpine sports and expeditions), and can also be useful for flagging signs of sleep apnoea, or if you’re overexerting yourself during exercise.
But it does state clearly that the data is not intended to be used for medical purposes, or to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition.
Accuracy may be compromised by the location of the device: fitness trackers take blood oxygen measurements from the wrist rather than the fingertip. Here they are more likely to move around, and there is a lower concentration of blood at the surface level.
We recently tested this feature on a couple of popular wearables – the Huawei GT2, Huawei GT2e, Garmin Venu, Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Honor Band 5.
We compared the results to those taken by a reference medical device on 10 healthy people, all within the normal range of SpO2 sensors. Some were easy to use and accurate, giving readings that were close to those of the reference device, while others were more capricious and required us to take a couple of readings.
Notably, some struggled on darker skin, due to the technology involved in taking a reading. One model we looked at is pretty useless unless you have pale white skin.
Even for those devices that worked well on everyone, we’d recommend taking two readings to confirm the values.
And, it’s worth reiterating that fitness trackers and smart watches aren’t medical devices, so you shouldn’t rely on them to detect a problem. However, if you do notice something unusual, then it’s worth following up with your doctor.
This story was originally published on 5 May 2020, but has since been updated to reflect the latest developments.
Osirix free download for pc. Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive technique that helps you measure oxygen saturation, i.e., how much oxygen your blood contains. It helps assess your heart pumping function and detect early signs of possible respiratory or cardiac arrest. This is done using pulse oximeters, small devices usually worn on a finger or an earlobe. Oximetry is easy to use and painless and has become very popular among patients with some chronic health problems.
Best Pulse Oximeter 2020
This moderately priced oximeter combines accuracy with a sleek design that will fit almost any finger size. Made of latex-free silicone, it’s ideal for people with allergies. It’s also lightweight and offers pulse rate and pulse bar graph readings apart from the blood oxygen monitor.
Buy on AmazonBuyer’s Guide
If you aren’t sure whether you need a pulse oximeter at all, answer the following questions:
- Do you have respiratory problems, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
- Do you have cardiac problems?
- Do you think you have sleep problems such as apnea?
- Are you worried about COVID-19?
If you answer to at least one of the questions is “yes”, a pulse oximeter is a worthy investment. Apart from 24/7 oxygen saturation monitoring, most models measure your heart rate. Visualization techniques such as pulse bar graphs make oximeter reading easier to interpret.
The main advantage of wearing a finger pulse oximeter is that you will see when your blood oxygen level is lower than normal, prompting you to see a doctor. Some physicians advise it as a means of monitoring your health during the pandemic. Normal pulse oximeter readings range from 95 to 98% for an adult. If you see 92 or less, it’s time to make an appointment. You can google “pulse oximeter readings normal chart” for details.
Oximeters work by searching for oxygen-carrying hemoglobin molecules with the help of light waves that it emits. The patient doesn’t feel anything during the procedure.
One thing to remember is that most fingertip pulse oximeters are designed to be read by medical staff rather than the patient, so make sure you aren’t looking at your device upside down. Wear an oximeter on your dominant hand, preferably on the middle finger. Dark nail polish can interfere with pulse oximeter readings.
Below are four other excellent products to choose from.
The Most Budget-Friendly Model
FaceLake FL400 Pulse Oximeter with Carrying Case, Batteries, Neck/Wrist Cord - Black
This inexpensive oximeter has all the functions you might need for self-monitoring, including SpO2, heart rate, and pulse bar graph. It will fit most hands provided that you are at least 12 years old. The finger chamber is made of hypoallergenic silicone.
Buy on AmazonBest Design
Innovo Deluxe iP900AP Fingertip Pulse Oximeter with Plethysmograph and Perfusion Index (Off-White with Black)
A highly reliable model with additional plethymosgraph and perfusion index measurement functions for advanced users, this oxygen meter also looks better than most models. The multicolor screen layout is very convenient to read due to its horizontal orientation.
Buy on AmazonAn Oximeter Made to Last
Facelake FL400 Pulse Oximeter with Carrying Case, Batteries, Neck/Wrist Cord - Blue
Lloyds Pharmacy Oximeters
This model boasts a very sturdy and straightforward design for easy measurement except that it needs to be flipped so you can read the values. The readings are quite accurate, and the finger chamber will fit any adult finger size. A convenient carry case is included.
Buy on AmazonTop Model for a Family
MIBEST Silver Dual Color OLED Finger Pulse Oximeter - Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor with Color OLED Screen Display and Included Batteries - O2 Saturation Monitor
If you don’t feel like investing in several oximeters for monitoring your blood oxygen level and that of your kids at the same time, this device is the perfect solution as it can be used in pediatric patients as well as adults. Adjustable screen brightness adds a lot to the convenience.
Buy on AmazonQ & A
Here are the answers to some questions that people often ask about pulse oximetry.Lloyds Pharmacy Finger Pulse Oximeter
What does a lower-than-normal SpO2 reading mean?
An SpO2 of 92% or lower means you have hypoxia, that is, your body is deprived of oxygen. This condition requires immediate medical attention.
How does light measure oxygen?
Two types of light are used. Hemoglobin molecules that carry oxygen absorb one type, while empty ones absorb the other. The ratio of these light types is converted into the percentage that you see on the screen.
Can ambient light interfere with the readings?
Can A Pharmacist Check Oxygen Levels
It can if it contains the red spectrum. Heat lamps and phototherapy lamps might be incompatible with pulse oximetry.
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Top Model
If you don't know which Pulse Oximetersto choose, then we suggest you check out the Top Pulse Oximeters. Perhaps there is what you are looking for.
23 July 2020
If you don't know which Pulse Oximetersto choose, then we suggest you check out the Top Pulse Oximeters. Perhaps there is what you are looking for.
23 July 2020