Oximeters For Home Use

You have a sick person to look after at home. Or you are looking after a person dealing with a chronic illness. Or probably, you are one of those athletes who are undergoing intense training to compete in the upcoming athletic games. What’s common amongst all these three circumstances is that you need to constantly monitor the pulse rate and check out any risks of chronic respiratory and cardiac illnesses that can occur anytime. Most of these conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and chronic heart failure (CHF) require immediate medical attention. However, you can observe them at home as well. Wondering how? Here’s where an oximeter enters. It is a medical device that makes a note of the oxygen saturation of a patient’s blood and even highlights any changes in the blood volume of the skin. So, there you are. You do not have to hire a professional or visit the medical center time and again to make note of your blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate. With a pulse oximeter at home, you can carry out this activity easily and conveniently without anyone’s help. Check out the different kinds of pulse oximeters available in the market to suit your comfortability.

 

 

A fingertip pulse oximeter is characterized by a tiny computer and screen that easily fits onto a person’s finger. This pulse oximeter, when clipped onto the finger, emits light from one side while measuring the same light from the other side. The computer, in turn, measures the light from several pulses and indicates the person’s blood-oxygen level on the screen. A fingertip oximeter is one of the easiest and convenient machines to use at home. However, this oximeter has one disadvantage. If the person’s hand is damaged or is suffering from slow blood flow due to a clot or injury, the device may not be able to give an accurate reading. In some cases, the device may not even work.

 

An improvized version of fingertip pulse oximeter, a wrist pulse oximeter looks like a watch and is very comfortable to use. Simply slide your hand in it as you would wear a watch while the sensor is slid on a finger. Both the components are connected with a small wire. These devices are extremely useful for keeping a continuous check on blood-oxygen levels and hence, are most popular in sleep centers. Nonetheless, they can be used at home as well with patients who require constant monitoring of their health. They provide the advantage of storing readings of up to 24 hours which can later be downloaded on a computer and analyzed accordingly.

 

Similar to a fingertip pulse oximeter, a handheld pulse oximeter is often found in hospitals. While a fingertip pulse oximeter has a computer and screen attached to its surface, a handheld pulse oximeter has a more versatile clip that is connected through a cord to the computer. The hemoglobin level of the blood is measured through light, similar to a fingertip pulse oximeter. This device is clipped to the patient’s fingertip or earlobe. It is highly beneficial when a patient’s extremities are compromised and are unable to give accurate blood flow readings. This device, when attached, becomes very close to the brain and hence, helps in giving correct measurements. In cases of emergency, medical assistants attach the handheld pulse oximeter on the patient’s toe.

 

With a pulse oximeter at home, you now do not have to rush an ill person to a hospital or make regular visits for monitoring your blood oxygen saturation levels. Use carefully and take care!