You’ve probably noticed that doctors usually check some things at your regular medical examinations – blood test, body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. The results of these tests can tell them a lot about your health. Also, they can be a guideline for further analyses.

Oxygen saturation is also one of the parameters for monitoring basic body functions. It shows the saturation of arterial blood with this element, which directly affects the level of hemoglobin. Find out why this matter is important at this link.

As seen on https://www.cardiacsense.com/oxygen-saturation-monitor/, a pulse oximeter is a device used for the non-invasive measurement of oxygen in the blood and assessment of the level of respiratory function. Besides, this handy device also serves to quickly check the heart’s work.

The use is simple, painless and non-invasive, and suitable for almost any type and age of the patient. These features make it ideal for home use as well. It means a lot to patients who need to have their blood oxygen levels checked frequently.

Patients with Breathing Issues

Oxygen saturation monitors have greatly increased in use over the years for different medical conditions. Pulse oximeters made a breakthrough in use at home. The makers of these devices made them portable, pocket-sized, and affordable. People suffering from various diseases can buy these devices and control the vital signs that help them keep track of their health conditions.

Pulse oximeters are a must for people suffering from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory issues. Those with mild respiratory issues can successfully control oxygen levels. In any of these cases, saturation shouldn’t go under 95%.

But patients with asthma or COPD can go under 90%, which requires urgent medical help. Their airways are so sensitive so they can experience shortness of breath even when just walking or sitting. They may also have trouble exhaling, which can lead to other complications. That’s why they should check these parameters whenever they feel their condition gets worse.

Sleeping Issues

Sleep problems are most often indirectly related to breathing issues. These are one of the leading physical causes of insomnia and more serious conditions like sleep apnea. People suffering from these usually have poor sleep quality, feel tired, and have trouble making it through the day.

People suffering from sleep apnea should use a pulse oximeter frequently. They usually have interrupted breathing while sleeping. They hold their breath for a few seconds without being aware of it. It might seem harmless, but even a minor lack of oxygen can cause a lot of damage.

Usually, the trigger of this condition is too loose tissue of the upper respiratory tract. It blocks the air passage. During that time, an oxygen supply in blood is interrupted. That can easily disturb the levels of this element and cause a variety of adverse symptoms, from exhaustion to heart issues. Checking saturation will give a guideline to doctors to put your sleeping issues under control.

Heart Disease Sufferers

Heart diseases are a leading cause of death throughout the world. Oxygen saturation monitoring is of great importance for people already suffering from heart disease. Also, people with tendency and high risks of cardiovascular conditions may find that using a pulse oximeter can help them detect problems early. On this link, see some handy guidelines on using this device.

A healthy heart use about 250ml of oxygen per minute. This amount goes up when you are physically active, but it stabilizes as soon as the heart rate returns to normal. Suppose the oxygen usage drops for a long time. In that case, it indicates a disturbance of heart function.

The oxygen in the blood drops significantly after having a stroke. If you have suffered a heart attack or angina may need to use pulse oximeters or even wear them all the time to track the oxygenation. These devices monitor these levels and deliver the information to your doctors. They can then prescribe the proper medication or adjust the therapy to your current health condition.

Post-Surgery Monitoring

Complex surgeries most often require full sedation. During waking up from general anesthesia, some people may experience minor or major difficulties. Checking oxygen levels is a mandatory procedure in post-surgery monitoring to test lung function. It shows the patient’s ability to breathe normally after exposure to anesthetics.

Corona Virus Detection

Lately, the global pandemic has greatly changed people’s awareness of health. Coronavirus attacks the lungs, and inflammation of these organs often occurs as a consequence and complication of this disease. Also, COVID-19 is followed by a decrease in blood oxygen saturation. That often leads to breathing shortage, but not always.

A pulse oximeter can be very useful for monitoring this parameter, especially in patients who show some typical symptoms, are in isolation, or still waiting for the test result. If their lungs don’t get enough oxygen, checking the saturation gives a more complete picture of the situation. Based on these values, doctors will be able to prescribe therapy and advice on how to proceed.

There are many situations when people may need to check oxygen levels regularly. With a pulse oximeter, they can do that in their homes, without going to a doctor. Of course, medical experts should be up to date with the patients’ health conditions. This handy device will help them keep track of the oxygen level changes and adjusting the treatment as needed.