You may know someone, who is now suffering or have suffered from a particular health disorder. Actually, I can say that you are still lucky, if you were able to surpass this stage because there are people, who are struggling so much to survive. After being diagnosed with their sickness, they are seriously doing their best to get well. Those with conditions, such as asthma, COPD, pneumonia or lung cancer to name a few are even using a device like pulse oximeters – go to http://pulpmx.com/2017/07/12/masimo-mighty-sat-finger-tip-pulse-oximeter for further reading.
By the way, there are individuals, who are using this small device to conduct a test, even when they are at home. This is actually a light and handy clip that is usually attached to the finger. So, you won’t need to worry about keeping it in a safe storage or emergency kits. The pulse oximeter aims at measuring the saturation level of oxygen in one’s blood. It is capable of detecting the efficiency of oxygen that is being carried to different parts of your body. With a good quality device, you can get an accurate result.
That’s why, even the health care providers are counting on it and had been using it in the clinics or hospitals. Using this is very simple because you can always read the instructions from the manual. What you really need to deal with, are the most important terms, which has to be understood by a layman. We are not all familiar with medical terminologies, anyway. Therefore, it is a must for users to understand a few terms, regarding the reading, since these are significant to the test that you are performing.
The Pulse Rate
Do you know that the pulse rate refers to the number of contractions or beats that the heart makes every minute? It is important to learn more about this, when using a pulse oximeter for personal monitoring. For this to be normal, the pulse rate must be 60 to 100, though it may vary, depending on your activities or health condition. For example, when you are working out or exercising, you can expect it to rise from 130 to 150. Do not worry because this is a normal reading, since you needed more oxygen with this activity.
What is not normal is that, when you are diagnosed with health issues, such as hypertension or high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy and other heart-related concerns. Aside from your health issues, this will depend on your age and weight, too. So, sometimes, you may take a rest and see, if the pulse rate will get back to normal. Actually, you should consult a medical expert, to find out, why your pulse rate is not normal.
The Blood Oxygen Saturation
Another important term to be familiar with is the blood oxygen saturation or the SpO2. This refers to the amount of estimated oxygen, which carries the hemoglobin within one’s blood. And then, the hemoglobin is actually a protein, which is in-charged with carrying the oxygen into your blood. In fact, it is in the red blood cells.
Is your SpO2 at normal level? For this to be normal, it has to be 95% to 100%. If this will be less than or equal to 92%, then it means that there is poor saturation and may be a sign of hypoxia. With insufficient SpO2, you may experience adverse conditions of your health. This includes chest pains, increased heart rate and shortness of breath to name a few. It is important for this blood oxygenation to be supplied properly and fully to different parts of the body. With poor saturation, the muscles may not function well, especially when you are into sports.
