What is a pulse oximeter?

A pulse oximeter is a small, lightweight device used to monitor the amount of oxygen carried by the blood in the body. It can be a clip-like device called a probe and is placed on a body part. Such as a finger or ear lobe, or in most cases, it is a compact fingertip tool. This can give you valuable information about your health. Sending two wavelengths of light through the finger to measure your pulse rate and how much oxygen is in your blood circulation.

How does a pulse oximeter work?

It is an easy, painless measure of how well oxygen is being sent to parts of your body furthest from your heart, such as the arms and legs. The probes are equipped with light-emitting sensors as well as light receiving sensors. The light is emitted with different wavelength characteristics through the veins. The receiving sensor will receive the reflected wave and then use an algorithm to count the percentages of the red-cells carrying oxygen.  Once the oximeter finishes its assessment, the screen will display the percent of oxygen in your blood coming from your heart, as well as your current pulse rate. 

Pulse Oximetry Readings

Most healthy people will get oxygen reading around 95 to 98 percent. Some people with existing health conditions may have a lower normal reading. This information helps the healthcare provider decide if a person needs extra oxygen. The oxygen level may also help to determine if you need to receive supplemental oxygen.

There are a lot of pulse oximeters in the market today. However, there are important elements you need to consider before getting one. You can check to get to know those critical deciding factors before buying a unit. https://123checkup.com/5-reasons-buy-us/

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