Pulse oximetry is a measure of how much oxygen is in the blood.
People with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, very young infants, and individuals with some infections may benefit from pulse oximetry.
In this article, we look at how pulse oximeters work and what to expect when using one.
Every system and organ in the body needs oxygen to survive. Without oxygen, cells begin to malfunction and eventually die. Cell death can cause severe symptoms and ultimately lead to organ failure.
The body transports oxygen to the organs by filtering it through the lungs. The lungs then distribute oxygen into the blood via hemoglobin proteins in red blood cells. These proteins provide oxygen to the rest of the body.
Pulse oximetry measures the percentage of oxygen in hemoglobin proteins, called oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation usually indicates how much oxygen is getting to the organs.
Normal oxygen saturation levels are between 95 and 100 percent. Oxygen saturation levels
Pulse oximeters are clip-on devices that measure oxygen saturation. The device may be attached to a finger, a wrist, a foot, or any other area where the device can read blood flow.
Oxygen saturation can drop for many reasons, including:
- suffocation
- choking
- infections, such as pneumonia
- drowning
- diseases, such as emphysema, lung cancer, and lung infections
- inhaling poisonous chemicals
- heart failure or a history of heart attacks
- allergic reactions
- general anesthesia
- sleep apnea
Pulse oximeters work by shining a light through a relatively transparent area of the skin. The light shines through to a detector positioned on the other side of the skin.
For example, when a pulse oximeter is clipped onto a finger, one side of the clip shines the light, and the other detects it.
The amount of light absorbed by the blood indicates the oxygen saturation. A pulse oximeter does not directly measure oxygen saturation but instead uses a complex equation and other data to estimate the exact level.
Every system and organ in the body needs oxygen to survive. Without oxygen, cells begin to malfunction and eventually die. Cell death can cause severe symptoms and ultimately lead to organ failure.
The body transports oxygen to the organs by filtering it through the lungs. The lungs then distribute oxygen into the blood via hemoglobin proteins in red blood cells. These proteins provide oxygen to the rest of the body.
Pulse oximetry measures the percentage of oxygen in hemoglobin proteins, called oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation usually indicates how much oxygen is getting to the organs.
Normal oxygen saturation levels are between 95 and 100 percent. Oxygen saturation levels
Pulse oximeters are clip-on devices that measure oxygen saturation. The device may be attached to a finger, a wrist, a foot, or any other area where the device can read blood flow.
Oxygen saturation can drop for many reasons, including:
- suffocation
- choking
- infections, such as pneumonia
- drowning
- diseases, such as emphysema, lung cancer, and lung infections
- inhaling poisonous chemicals
- heart failure or a history of heart attacks
- allergic reactions
- general anesthesia
- sleep apnea
Pulse oximeters work by shining a light through a relatively transparent area of the skin. The light shines through to a detector positioned on the other side of the skin.
For example, when a pulse oximeter is clipped onto a finger, one side of the clip shines the light, and the other detects it.
The amount of light absorbed by the blood indicates the oxygen saturation. A pulse oximeter does not directly measure oxygen saturation but instead uses a complex equation and other data to estimate the exact level.
Pulse oximeters are useful for people who have conditions that affect oxygen saturation. For example, a sleep specialist might recommend a pulse oximeter to monitor the nighttime oxygen saturation level of someone with suspected sleep apnea or severe snoring.
Pulse oximetry can also provide feedback about the effectiveness of breathing interventions, such as oxygen therapy and ventilators.
Some doctors use pulse oximetry to assess the safety of physical activity in people with cardiovascular or respiratory problems, or may recommend that a person wears a pulse oximeter while exercising. A doctor may also use pulse oximetry as part of a stress test.
Some hospitals also use pulse oximeters for particularly vulnerable patients. For instance, infants in neonatal intensive care units may wear pulse oximeters, which can alert staff of a drop in oxygen saturation.
Some benefits of pulse oximetry include:
- monitoring oxygen saturation over time
- alerting to dangerously low oxygen levels, particularly in newborns
- offering peace of mind to people with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions
- assessing the need for supplemental oxygen
- monitoring oxygen saturation levels in people under anesthesia
- indicating dangerous side effects in people taking drugs that affect breathing or oxygen saturation
Pulse oximeters are now widely available to buy online, so some people without specific risk factors may use them.
Some companies now market pulse oximeters to parents of young infants. These devices promise peace of mind to parents concerned about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sleeping accidents, but no research supports the claim that they can prevent SIDS or accidents.
Pulse oximeters are useful for people who have conditions that affect oxygen saturation. For example, a sleep specialist might recommend a pulse oximeter to monitor the nighttime oxygen saturation level of someone with suspected sleep apnea or severe snoring.
Pulse oximetry can also provide feedback about the effectiveness of breathing interventions, such as oxygen therapy and ventilators.
Some doctors use pulse oximetry to assess the safety of physical activity in people with cardiovascular or respiratory problems, or may recommend that a person wears a pulse oximeter while exercising. A doctor may also use pulse oximetry as part of a stress test.
Some hospitals also use pulse oximeters for particularly vulnerable patients. For instance, infants in neonatal intensive care units may wear pulse oximeters, which can alert staff of a drop in oxygen saturation.
Some benefits of pulse oximetry include:
- monitoring oxygen saturation over time
- alerting to dangerously low oxygen levels, particularly in newborns
- offering peace of mind to people with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions
- assessing the need for supplemental oxygen
- monitoring oxygen saturation levels in people under anesthesia
- indicating dangerous side effects in people taking drugs that affect breathing or oxygen saturation
Pulse oximeters are now widely available to buy online, so some people without specific risk factors may use them.
Some companies now market pulse oximeters to parents of young infants. These devices promise peace of mind to parents concerned about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sleeping accidents, but
Some factors can reduce the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading, including:
- changes in the pulse
- carbon monoxide poisoning, which may not produce an alert in a pulse oximeter
- bilirubin levels
- lipids in blood plasma
- interference from external light or color, including nail polish
- having cold hands or poor circulation
People who use pulse oximeters to monitor oxygen saturation should not rely on the oximeter as a substitute for subjective experience.
People experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, or other signs of possible oxygen deprivation should seek medical attention
Source - Medical News Today
Some factors can reduce the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading, including:
- changes in the pulse
- carbon monoxide poisoning, which may not produce an alert in a pulse oximeter
- bilirubin levels
- lipids in blood plasma
- interference from external light or color, including nail polish
- having cold hands or poor circulation
People who use pulse oximeters to monitor oxygen saturation should not rely on the oximeter as a substitute for subjective experience.
People experiencing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, or other signs of possible oxygen deprivation should seek medical attention
Source - Medical News Today
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