A guide to using pulse oximeters to keep your health in check

Have you ever wondered about that little clip medical professionals put on your fingertip while doing your health check-up? That's a pulse oximeter—a handy device that that provides a quick and non-invasive way to estimate the percentage of oxygen carried by your red blood cells leveled by a painless light pinch.?The pulse oximeter will also display your pulse rate, which is the number of times your heart beats per minute.?So if you are planning to get one, in this article, we will be going through the different types of pulse oximeters, guiding by a step-by-step process to using this, and discussing what the readings mean.?

Types of Pulse Oximeters

There are mainly two types of pulse oximeters:

• Fingertip Pulse Oximeters: These are very commonly found everywhere. They are small, portable, and easy to use at home. These are a kind of clip-on device that fits comfortably over your fingertip and shines light through your finger to measure oxygen saturation.
• Earlobe Pulse Oximeters: The earlobe pulse oximeters are used in hospitals or on infants. They are relatively less in use. They clip onto the earlobe and function similarly to fingertip models. They are usually preferred for infants because fingers can be too small for a secure fit with a fingertip pulse oximeter.

How does the oximeter work?

• The device emits two light wavelengths—red and infrared—that pass through the fingertip.
• Hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, absorbs different amounts of these light wavelengths depending on whether it's carrying oxygen (oxyhemoglobin) or not (deoxyhemoglobin).
• Based on the ratio of absorbed red light to absorbed infrared light, the oximeter estimates the percentage of hemoglobin carrying oxygen. This percentage is displayed as your oxygen saturation (SpO2).

Steps to using a pulse oximeter?

• Before measuring, make sure that your hands are warm and at a normal temperature, because cold hands might affect the accuracy.
• Try to remove any nail polish or artificial nails.
• Sit comfortably and relax for a few minutes before taking a reading.
• Turn on the oximeter and clip it onto your fingertip. The sensor needs to face your fingernail.
• Keep your hand still and below the level of your heart.
• It takes a few seconds for the reading to appear on the screen.
• Wait for the numbers to stabilize before recording them.

Normal range

A SpO2 reading between 95% and 100% is considered normal for healthy adults.?A normal resting heart rate for adults generally falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute.?If your SpO2 falls below 90%, particularly for extended periods, it's advisable to consult a doctor as this could indicate low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia).?People with chronic lung problems like COPD or asthma may have a lower baseline SpO2 established by their doctor. SpO2 levels may naturally be slightly lower in older adults.

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