Some common uses of pulse oximeter include –
- In cases of Asthma, oximeters can determine if a person needs assistance in breathing.
- To monitor if a ventilator is effectively working on improving the patient’s oxygen or not.
- For lung patients, it can determine if a new medication is functioning.
- Many surgical procedures require the patient to be sedated. In such cases, an oximeter used to monitor the oxygen level.
- Athletes and sportsperson use it to evaluate their oxygen capacity with increased physical activity.
- While trying a new oxygen therapy treatment.
- In cases of sleep apnea, a pulse oximeter is used to evaluate if a patient stops breathing momentarily while asleep.
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Medical Conditions which require Oximeters
If you or your closed one suffer from any of the below medical ailments, it is advisable to keep an oximeter handy.
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Anaemia
- COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Heart Attack
- Congenital Heart Defects
How to use a pulse oximeter?
Follow these steps to get an accurate reading from your oximeter –
- Take the oximeter, which is a clip-like device.
- Place it on any finger, preferably the index finger. Please don’t get confused. The fact is that oximeters work in other parts of the body, such as the toes.
- Once you put it on your finger, you will feel a slight pressure. But there won’t be any pain or pinching while the device takes your reading.
- Wait for a few seconds. Usually, devices take 10 seconds. But some high-quality oximeters can even produce the result in 6 seconds.
- You will be able to see the real-time reading of your pulse and blood oxygen level.
- Once you have noted the oximeter readings, remove the device.