How A Portable Pulse Oximeter Device Can Improve Your Health

A portable pulse oximeter can be a useful monitoring tool for improving your health. Specifically, a pulse oximeter monitors blood oxygen saturation level (SpO₂) and pulse rate (BMP), which can be valuable data if you suffer from certain chronic conditions.

People with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), sleep apnea, or asthma can benefit from blood oxygenation monitoring. Patients with other respiratory or cardiac problems may also find a pulse oximeter to be useful. If you have asthma, it can be especially helpful to monitor your SpO₂ while working out to avoid pushing yourself too hard and provoking an attack.

But even if you are a healthy individual, you may find this device to be useful. Some athletes wear a portable pulse oximeter, typically on their fingertips, to monitor lung function efficiency during their workout. If you undertake a new exercise regimen with a personal trainer, she may have you wear an oximeter to gather data on how well your body is adapting to the new routine. But since these devices are so inexpensive and simple to use, you can purchase one for yourself and easily track your training data.

If you plan to travel to a high altitude spot or go diving on your next vacation, a pulse oximeter can be helpful in these situations as well. Both high altitudes and increased water pressure from deep diving can lead to situations where oxygen is reduced in your system, resulting in dangerous hypoxemia. This can cause shortness of breath, chronic coughing, and trouble sleeping.

Portablepulse oximeters are simple devices that have multiple uses. Even if you don’t have a chronic condition that requires ongoing monitoring, why not pick one up for your first aid kit? You never know when it might come in handy.