What is an oxygen meter? And what are its uses? How is it used? What is the meaning of its results? Find out the answers to all these questions and more from the following paragraphs, in addition to what you should know about its potential damage and its role in detecting the Corona virus.

What is an oxygen meter?

Pulse oximetry is a small clip-like device placed on a part of the body, usually on a finger, and is a non-invasive test used to measure the level of oxygen saturation in the blood. This device can detect any small changes in oxygen levels, as these levels show how efficiently the blood delivers oxygen to the outer extremities far from the heart, including the arms and legs.

This device is used in emergency situations such as emergency rooms and hospitals, and doctors who specialize in lung diseases tend to use it more often in clinics. This device can also be used at home.

Oxygen meter benefits and uses

The main purpose of using the oxygen meter is to know whether the blood is well oxygenated or not, and doctors use it to monitor the health status of some patients who have health conditions that affect oxygen levels in the blood, such as:

Doctors also use this device for other reasons, including:

• To assess how well a new drug is working for the lung.
• To assess if someone needs help breathing.
• To assess the efficiency of the ventilator.
• To measure oxygen levels during and after surgical procedures requiring anesthesia.
• To find out whether a person needs supplemental oxygen therapy or not, and its efficiency if used.
• To assess a person’s ability to tolerate excessive physical activity.

Oxygen meter and corona

It is not recommended to use this device to find out whether a person suffers from corona or not, and in the event of any symptoms that indicate infection, examination and isolation must be made. In the case of infection with the Corona virus, this device can help in monitoring health in general and knowing whether the person needs medical care or not, knowing the oxygen levels is not the only way to confirm the person’s illness, as some people may feel very tired, but their oxygen levels are good, so it is preferable to Consult a doctor to get the correct diagnosis.

How to use the oxygen meter

Here are the steps for using an oxygen meter:

• If using the device on fingers, remove any jewelry or nail polish.
• Make sure the arm is warm, relaxed, and below heart level.
• The device can be placed on the finger, earlobe or toe.
• Leave the device for the sufficient period required by monitoring the pulse and oxygen saturation.
• Remove the device when finished.

While using this device, small rays of light pass through the blood in the finger, which measures the amount of oxygen, and according to the British Lung Foundation this is done by measuring changes in the absorption of oxygen in oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. This device detects oxygen saturation levels and heart rate.

Oxygen meter results

This device gives more accurate results when using high-efficiency devices, especially those located in hospitals or clinics. And the FDA, especially in oximetry tests ordered by a physician, requires oxygen levels to provide results ranging from 4 to 6%. According to the American Thoracic Society, more than 89% of blood must carry oxygen, which is the normal level to maintain oxygen saturation at a healthy level.

95% is considered the normal level of oxygen saturation in healthy people, and a level of 92% or less can indicate the possibility of hypoxia in the blood. A temporary decrease in the level of oxygen saturation from the above-mentioned percentage may not cause any harm, but if the matter is repeated or continues, this can result in complications and health problems.

How accurate is the oxygen meter?

Most oximeters are accurate to within 2 to 4% of the actual oxygen saturation level, which means that the device reading can be 2 to 4% higher or lower than the actual oxygen level in the blood in the artery.

There are several factors that can affect the efficiency and accuracy of the results of this device, including:

• Nail polish.
• artificial nails
• Some dyes used for analyzes and medical procedures.
• severe tremors or other intense movement
• skin temperature.
• skin thickness.
• smoking.
• Skin color, sometimes the result of this device may be less accurate in the case of dark skin.

Are there any damages to the oxygen meter?

All medical tests carry a risk of harm to some degree, and among the possible harms that may occur when using an oxygen meter:

• Incorrect reading, if the clip falls off the part it is attached to, whether the finger, toe, or earlobe.
• Skin irritation from the clamp.

These damages may vary according to the general health condition and the presence of any other factors that may affect, so you can talk to your doctor and discuss all matters related to the use of this device.