Where can I buy a pulse oximeter?
Pulse oximeters for use at home aren’t new, but as COVID-19 continues to make health and safety a top priority, more people are looking for ways to manage their health.
If you’re considering getting a pulse oximeter, you can have one shipped directly to your door and most can be purchased with pre-tax. While pulse oximeters are relatively easy to find right now, with coronavirus cases rising across the globe they may be in short supply soon.
If you’re looking for recommendations, curious how pulse oximeters even work, and who can benefit the most from using them, read on.
What types of pulse oximeters are available?
Pulse oximeter probes or sensors can be attached to the finger, nose, ear, toes, and forehead areas, however, the most accurate readings usually come from when the pulse oximeter is clamped to the finger, specifically the middle finger, as opposed to other body parts.
There is a wide range of oximeters to choose from nowadays. There’s a basic pulse oximeter and sophisticated models, an oximeter that can store up t0 24 hrs of data, an alarm, and has wireless connectivity to a computer or smartphone via Bluetooth to transfer the recorded data. There’s also a wristband oximeter for the overnight recording of blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate
How to choose an oximeter?
When shopping for at-home pulse oximeters, the first to consider is to find a medical grade and is certified by Health Canada, highly-rated pulse oximeters based on reviews and from reputable companies and sellers from Amazon, Walmart, BestBuy, drugstores, and more. These pulse oximeters are labeled for medical use. Most pulse oximeters also measure your heart rate, which is also a plus to many. Remember although it’s not entirely necessary for everyone, a pulse oximeter could help give you peace of mind.
Where can you get a pulse oximeter?
Although it was nearly impossible to find a pulse oximeter in stock a few months ago, supplies are catching up with demand, and there are several available now if you would still like to buy one for extra assurance. Pulse oximeters, normally bought online like Amazon, Walmart, BestBuy, drugstores, or via medical device suppliers. Pulse oximeters can be easy to find right now.
Pulse oximeters can be very useful tools when they are used correctly. This means a Health Canada-approved device is being used according to instructions from the manufacturer or a medical professional. Not following the proper way in using the pulse oximeter can lead to faulty readings and misinterpreted results.
Although many places sell online there are very few products that are verified as medical grade and are certified by Health Canada. Health Canada is responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health. It ensures that high-quality health services are accessible, and works to reduce health risks. They are a federal institution that is part of the Health portfolio. If you are in Canada please make sure you buy a Health Canada-approved product. While FDA has a certain level of standard, Health Canada has more elements into consideration to approve products that are safe and accurate for public use. You can visit the Health Canada website https://health-products.canada.ca/mdall-limh/ to check the status of a product if it is registered and licensed.
Disclaimer
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/health/best-pulse-oximeter
https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-pulse-oximeters.html
