Blood oxygen saturation rate by pulse oximeter
Saturation is an indicator of blood oxygen saturation or, in other words, oxygen starvation of the body. Its level can be checked using an electronic device for non – invasive (through the skin) measurement-a pulse oximeter. When the oxygen saturation of the blood drops, as a rule, a person begins to feel shortness of breath. However, it should be remembered that shortness of breath does not always mean a decreasфe in saturation.
Pulse oximeters are used in hospitals, clinics, and medical centers. Due to their small size and ease of use, they are also ideal for home use. You can take the small, portable device with you anywhere and make measurements in a few seconds – for both children and adults. This will ensure a fairly rapid response in the event of a drop in the level of oxygen saturation of the blood. Especially recommended for:
- elderly people (70+) who require constant health monitoring;
- people who work more than 12 hours indoors;
- for those at risk of Covid-19 infection.
- Monitoring the saturation level allows you to detect developing respiratory failure and take the necessary measures in a timely manner.
Blood oxygen saturation – how to check its level?
Pulse oximetry is an effective method for measuring the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood. This test does not use a needle or require a blood sample. A small clip-like device with a specially built-in sensor-an oximeter-can be attached to take readings:
- on the index finger of the right or left hand;
- to the toe;
- on the earlobe;
- the wing of the nose;
- on the forehead (a special probe is attached with adhesive tape or plaster);
- in newborns - on the foot or wrist. To measure saturation in the youngest children, special pediatric pulse oximeters are usually used, which are a Velcro strap.
This device, in addition to studying saturation, can measure and record the pulse, that is, the heart rate (the norm for adults is 50-100 beats per minute). Since the device measures oxygen "peripherally" (in the external area), the results are given as peripheral blood oxygen saturation, also known as SpO2. Such testing is absolutely safe and is often used by doctors to monitor the patient's condition during various medical procedures or surgical operations.
What are the norms of blood oxygen saturation?
The norm of oxygen saturation in a healthy person ranges from 95-99%. These values are slightly lower in the elderly (the normal result is 93-95%), as well as in smokers. Patients during oxygen therapy may have a saturation level of 100%.
If the saturation is below 90%, we are dealing with hypoxia of the body, which indicates severe respiratory failure. Low blood oxygen saturation is a dangerous signal for human life and health, so it requires urgent medical intervention.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW. Test results may be distorted by blood vessel contractions, for example, from cold or mobility of a person; with elevated bilirubin levels; due to applied cosmetics to the areas of the body to which the device is attached; nail plate fungus; tattoos on the fingers; dark nail Polish on the patient's nails. Accurate measurements can also interfere with exposure to a strong light source, such as phototherapy, surgical or fluorescent lamps.
Indications for testing the level of oxygen in the blood
There are many reasons why this test is performed. The most common indications for research are:
- breathing problems;
- congenital heart disease;
- heart failure;
- diabetes;
- pneumonia;
- bronchial asthma;
- mucoviscidosis;
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
- frequent bouts of nausea and / or vomiting;
- hypoxia of the body due to carbon monoxide or smoke poisoning;
- control of saturation in the mother and fetus (during pregnancy);
- use of oxygen therapy or artificial ventilation to determine how effective the treatment is;
- surgical intervention under General anesthesia and in the postoperative period-to monitor the condition of patients.
Non-invasive studies are necessary in preterm infants and infants with low birth weight. In addition, regular measurements of oxygen saturation should be made by people who work or are professionally engaged in sports at altitudes, such as mountaineers, pilots, rock climbers, and skydiving athletes.
A pulse oximeter can't diagnose certain diseases, but if your results aren't normal, your doctor will prescribe additional tests to confirm or rule out the suspected diagnosis.
How do I conduct research on my own?
To perform the measurement, insert your finger to the full depth of the rubber gap of the oximeter so that the surface of the nail plate is facing the screen, and release the clip. Then turn on the device, and after a few seconds read the result from the device screen. You can't move your finger during testing! The finger should be dry and warm – frozen hands should be pre-warmed, then the test result will be completely reliable.
Principle of operation of the pulse oximeter
The non-invasive device works by measuring the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. It consists of a light source and a sensor that checks the degree of absorption of the light beam. Due to the fact that oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin has a different color and shows different light-absorbing ability, the oximeter is able to distinguish them and, based on this, evaluate the value of blood oxygen saturation. The result of the SpO2 study is expressed as a percentage.