As oximeters have become a household item during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to have a device that works correctly.
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The oximeter, once a rarely heard name and used only in hospitals, has now become a household item since the COVID-19 pandemic began. To safeguard patients from deteriorating health, doctors suggest monitoring oxygen saturation levels frequently. With the increasing number of oximeter devices available in the market, do we know if the product we are using is calibrated right and working properly? Let’s understand how an oximeter works, how to take the readings and about identifying faulty readings. The pulse oximeter is a device which measures the oxygen saturation level in the blood in a non-invasive and painless way. This small clip-like device assesses the heart rate and oxygen level of a person. For a person who has tested positive for coronavirus, oxygen levels are the key indicator to understand whether the infection has spread to the individual’s lungs. Especially among people who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, this device helps to track the severity of infection. Pulse oximeter is typically a fairly accurate test, with a provision for an error margin of 2%. Therefore, oximeters have become a must-have device during the pandemic to know the condition of your lungs. A faulty oximeter may provide faulty readings, which may in some cases lead to emergency situations as people are increasingly dependent on oximeters. In many cases, these variations may go unnoticed and people end up in the emergency rooms due to faulty oximeters. With increased demand for oximeters, there is an influx of multiple types of devices in the market, which is making it difficult for people to choose. The lack of knowledge about the device and the variety of choices have now left people more confused regarding the purchase of oximeters. There are a few oximeters which may show the SPO2 level more than 100, which clearly indicates that this is a faulty device as the percentage of SPO2 has to be within 100. Therefore, it is important to check the oximeters before buying them. Buying it from genuine brands and testing it for correctness before the purchase is vital. While checking the reading in the oximeter, one has to give prominence to the numbers mentioned in the display and also the wavelength form which is displayed. The waveform of a healthy person will be a pulsed waveform, i.e, with every heartbeat there should be a spike to reflect blood flow. This gives more clarity on the performance of the device. It is not only the device one should be careful about, using the device properly and also taking the reading in the right way is crucial to understand a person’s true health condition. What to look for while buying oximeter: There are three different varieties of oximeter including finger pulse oximeters, hand-held oximeters and fetal pulse oximeters. While the finger oximeter is generally used at home, others are used in hospitals. It is important to buy the right type of device to avoid unnecessary panic. While buying an oximeter, look for the following features: > It has clear and bright display > Made out of durable material > Provides accurate readings > Look for certifications like FDA, RoHS, or CE certifications How to use the oximeter properly? > Rest for 10-15 minutes before taking readings > Rest one hand on the chest and hold still > Place the oximeter on the middle or index finger of the other hand > Keep the finger in the same place till the reading is stable > Register the highest result once the reading has been stabilised > Identify the reading carefully > Start recording from the baseline and record thrice a day unless you notice any changes in your health > Consult a medical professional in case of breathlessness or dip in oxygen levels to 95% or less > Remove nail polish before checking and the finger should be dry > Rest the fingers on the thigh and not the chest After testing positive for coronavirus, it is important to monitor the blood oxygen level. Make the right decision before buying the oximeter and do not fall for discounts and sales. Dr Chinnadurai R is Lead Consultant- Critical Care at Aster RV Hospital in Bengaluru.
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