Fingertip Pulse Oximeter - What Does It Measure?

Pulse oximeters are medical devices designed to measure what percentage of the hemoglobin in your blood is oxygenated. Specifically, they measure blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and your pulse rate (BPM).

Oximeters are indispensable in hospital surgery units to ensure patients are safe while under anesthesia. They are also critical in infant wards for testing the heart health of infants. In fact, oximeters are standard monitoring tools in any situation where a patient’s oxygenation might be unstable.

After their invention in 1972, these devices quickly spread through the medical community due to their usefulness in many situations. Modern Finger Pulse Oximeters are small and non invasive, and have moved into the home market. They can be especially useful to patients with respiratory or cardiac problems and those suffering from sleep apnea and sleep hypopnea.

Pulse oximetry is not a substitute for getting a laboratory checkup of blood gasses since it doesn’t measure blood pH and carbon dioxide levels, but if you need a quick and painless way to regularly check your levels, a Finger Pulse Oximeter is a great device. If you suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an oximeter may help save your life.

Some athletes have begun wearing a pulse oximeter during exercise as a means of monitoring how efficiently they are training. You might find this useful if you are exercising in high altitudes, suffer from asthma, or are recovering from an illness. Keeping an eye on your oxygen levels while working out can help you monitor how hard you are pushing yourself and make sure that you don’t overdo it.

Pulse oximetry provides a quick, non-invasive way to monitor blood oxygenation and pulse rate, both of which may be a valuable tool in maintaining your health. Check with your doctor to see if one would be right for you.