What Is The Normal Blood Oxygen Level – Pulse oximetry is a simple and painless test that measures a person’s Oxygen saturation level (SpO2) and pulse rate. Simply put, it quickly measures how much oxygen is in the blood and how efficiently it is being carried to the farthest parts of the body, including the arms and legs.

Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive procedure, which means it does not introduce any equipment into the body. In fact, it is done simply by using a small, clip-on device called a pulse oximeter sensor, which is attached to some part of the body, usually a finger, toe, or earlobe. Pulse oximetry sensors vary in size and shape and are offered in reusable and single-use applications.

What Is The Normal Blood Oxygen Level

This procedure is often used in critical care settings and doctors’ offices because of its portability and efficiency.

Pulse Oximeter: Purpose, Usage, And Readings

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about using a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen saturation levels, whether in a hospital or home setting.

Humans need oxygen not only to breathe but also to live. When the amount of oxygen in the body is low, our cells begin to deteriorate, leading to life-threatening symptoms such as organ failure and eventual death.

In short, oxygen reaches different parts of the body after being filtered through the lungs.

Oxygen is carried to individual cells through hemoglobin, a pigment found in red blood cells.

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The purpose of pulse oximetry is to measure the amount of oxygen present in these hemoglobin proteins, indicating oxygen saturation.

Normal (peripheral) oxygen saturation levels fall between 95 and 100 percent A reading below 90 percent is already considered a clinical emergency.

There are various factors that indicate the use of pulse oximetry. In addition to being used in routine checkups, pulse oximeters are primarily used in people with medical conditions or clinical conditions that may affect oxygen saturation levels, such as:

There is a reason that pulse oximeters are widely used in medical facilities, doctors’ clinics, and even patients’ homes.

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Pulse oximetry is performed with the use of red and infrared light. When a pulse oximeter is clipped to a body part, red and infrared LEDs are shone through a relatively transparent part of the skin, usually where there is good blood flow, while the other side receives that light.

The principle behind this technology is that oxygenated hemoglobin can absorb more infrared light, allowing more red light to pass through.

On the other hand, deoxygenated hemoglobin absorbs more red light, allowing much of the infrared light to pass through.

Simply put, the ratio of red and infrared light transmitted by blood provides a measure of oxygen saturation.

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Initially, the device collects the intensity of both lights to represent both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood fractions. Then, the device detects the pulse and decreases the detected color intensity if the pulse is absent.

The remaining intensity should represent blood with oxygen, which is displayed as a percentage of oxygen saturation on the electronic screen of the pulse oximeter.

Pulse oximetry can also be used in inpatient, outpatient, or home settings upon doctor’s recommendation. This can be done through one of the pulse oximetry approaches:

Using this technique, the probe must be properly placed on the finger, ensuring that the device is not too tight (which hinders circulation) or too loose (which may fall or allow other light to enter).

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The patient should feel a small amount of pressure, but no pain should be involved during the procedure. Keep the device on until both your pulse and oxygen saturation are indicated. After the reading is completed, the device is then removed from the finger.

Pulse oximetry can be obtained through the ear approach. With this technique, a transmission probe is clipped to the patient’s earlobe, where it is connected to a monitoring unit that displays the oxygen saturation level.

In the case of a newborn, where the finger or ear may still be too small to be clipped, a pulse oximeter probe may be attached to the infant’s palm or foot.

In very rare cases, where the digits and ears are not accessible, a pulse oximetry reflex probe may be attached low to the forehead and just above the eyebrow, ensuring that it is placed away from the great vessels.

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When using this approach, the patient should be positioned in a prone manner. A headband is then placed on the forehead in check.

Normally, more than 89 percent of blood should carry oxygen, which is an adequate amount of oxygen needed to keep cells healthy and the body functioning fully.

When a person’s Blood Oxygen saturation level is lower than normal, the condition is called hypoxemia, which can be associated with problems with breathing or circulation and can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath.

A first saturation reading below the normal level may be inaccurate and not harmful, but repeated readings of this result can be harmful to a person.

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Most healthy people typically have an oxygen saturation level of 95 percent. On the other hand, a person with an oxygen saturation of 92 percent may indicate a lack of oxygen in the body’s organs and tissues or possible hypoxemia.

While pulse oximetry is a very accurate test that provides results within only a 2-percent variation from the actual reading, certain factors can affect its accuracy.

Placing the probe on the finger with nail polish or any pigment on the finger can interfere with the pulse oximetry reading because the dye can absorb the emitted light, making it unable to detect oxygenated hemoglobin.

Before clipping the probe to the patient’s finger or toe, check for the presence of nail varnish and remove it. If it is not possible to remove the varnish from the finger before the test, as in an emergency, you can turn the probe sideways or look for another possible site.

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Other factors that affect pulse oximetry readings include direct bright light shining on the probe, such as sunlight or operating light.

Although the device has a soft rubber that protects it from light, it may not be able to avoid bright light shining directly on the device. Make sure to complete the procedure in a room with adequate lighting.

Patient movement can cause false readings as the probe easily dislodges. With this, if the patient is trembling or twitching, you can immobilize the arm or wait until the tremors dissipate before resuming the test.

Other limitations of pulse oximetry include changes in the patient’s pulse, carbon monoxide poisoning, blood plasma lipids, bilirubin levels, or cold, clammy hands, or poor circulation.

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To perform pulse oximetry properly, prepare all the necessary equipment and materials, including a pulse oximeter, sensor probe, alcohol pads, and in some cases nail polish remover.

Once you have explained the purpose and procedure of the procedure to the patient, you can begin the following steps:

Your healthcare provider may require you to measure your oxygen saturation at home, but before you start shopping for a pulse oximeter, consult your doctor first about which unit to buy.

Pulse oximeters come in a variety of types and features, and it’s good to know which one works best for you.

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For example, if you need to periodically check your blood oxygen levels, a small, clip-like pulse oximeter should work just fine for you.

However, in some cases, such as in people with chronic diseases, they may need a built-in model for continuous use for continuous monitoring.

If your doctor requires it, you may need to secure a pulse oximeter that comes with a heart rate monitoring feature.

There are different types of pulse oximeters, although they basically perform the same function which is to measure blood oxygen saturation levels. However, each type comes with their specific pros and cons.

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There is the portable type or finger pulse oximeter, which is the version most commonly used at home, as well as in hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities.

This type of pulse oximeter proves to be the most efficient in monitoring blood oxygen levels because it is portable, convenient, affordable, and simple to use.

Another is the pulse oximeter type that is often used in medical facilities because it provides more accurate readings in spot checks and continuous monitoring.

Commonly used in hospitals as well as ambulatory health settings or EMS, a handheld oximeter consists of a probe that is connected to a cable that is then connected to a monitor.

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Generally larger in size than handheld pulse oximeters, tabletop oximeters are also capable of on-site readings and continuous oxygen saturation monitoring. It is ideal in hospitals as well as in subacute settings.

This wireless model is generally preferred for continuous monitoring of a patient’s blood oxygen saturation, which is ideal in patients who require monitoring on a daily basis or during their sleep.

Worn on the wrist like a wristwatch, this type of pulse oximeter has its probe attached.

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