What are the 2 numbers on pulse oximeter

Overview

A pulse oximeter is a device that checks to see how much oxygen your blood is carrying.

Usually a small clip is put on the end of your finger. (Sometimes it's put on your toe or earlobe.) The device shines a light beam through the skin. It estimates your oxygen level by measuring the percentage of your blood that's carrying oxygen. Your oxygen level (or oxygen saturation, SpO2) shows on the display screen.

Pulse oximeters are used in doctors' offices and hospitals. Your doctor may think it's a good idea to use one at home. This may be the case for people who have a condition that affects their oxygen levels. Examples include people who have long-term heart or lung problems or an infection like COVID-19. Choose a device that has been approved to give accurate readings. Talk to your doctor if you want help choosing one.

Why is it used?

Usually, low blood oxygen levels cause symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath. But with some health problems, you may not have symptoms from low blood oxygen. Your doctor may suggest checking your oxygen at different times. This can help you know when you need medical attention even if you don't have symptoms.

How do you use a pulse oximeter?

Turn on the pulse oximeter. (Check that it has batteries.) Clip it on the end of a finger. Your nail should be facing up. You'll see the results in a few seconds.

The device gives two results: your blood oxygen level (SpO2) and your pulse rate (PR). Your doctor can help you know what numbers are normal for you.

The device may not show any results if you have cold hands or you wear nail polish or artificial nails. Warm your hand, or remove the nail polish or nail. Or try a different finger.

Your doctor may suggest checking your oxygen level at different times, during exercise, or anytime your symptoms get worse. Keep a record of your levels in case you need to show it to your doctor.

When should you call for help?

Your doctor probably told you what numbers to watch for when you use your pulse oximeter. If not, here is some guidance.

Call your doctor if:

• Your blood oxygen level (SpO2) drops below 95%. This is true even if the number only drops when you're active.

If you have certain health problems, like COPD, your oxygen level may always be lower than 95%. Ask your doctor what oxygen number you should expect when using your pulse oximeter. Find out which number is a sign that you should call for help.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

• Your symptoms get worse.
• You are not getting better as expected.

Credits

Current as of: March 9, 2022

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Lesley Ryan MD - Family Medicine
Hasmeena Kathuria MD - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine

SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation levels) of a healthy person should fall in between 94% and 100%. Supplementary oxygen should be used if SpO2 level falls below 90%, which is unacceptable for a prolonged period of time. Medicare will pay for oxygen therapy and oxygen equipment if your SpO2 readings are below 88%. If your blood oxygen saturation falls under 88% consistently, consult with a doctor immediately. Many doctors want their patients to have their SpO2 above 90%.

Amperordirect offers various FDA approved Pulse Oximeter Solutions. Check out the Oximeter category page or contact AmperorDirect for more product information.

Here are some general guidelines to understanding oximeter readings and SpO2 values.

A healthy person should be able to achieve normal blood oxygen saturation levels (SpO2) of 94% to 99% consistently. For patients with mild respiratory diseases, the SpO2 should be 90% or above. Supplementary oxygen should be used if SpO2 levels falls below 90%, which is unacceptable for prolonged periods of time.

The blood oxygen level and the pulse rate, to a degree, are affiliated with each other but there is no strict direct correlation between the two. For example, a baby, a teenager a young adult and an elderly person in good health should all have a blood oxygen level of 94 or higher but the pulse in a baby can be 115 beats per minute while the other three people can average between 60 to 72 beats per minute. When you consider other variables like diet, and exercise regimen the range difference in pulse rate between people can be even more dramatic. A good example of such dramatic variations is marathon runners. Marathon runners can bring their pulse to as low as 35 beats per minute while maintaining a blood oxygen level of 97% or higher. This is due to the great conditioning of their bodies which makes the blood circulation so efficient that their hearts work very little to circulate the same amount of blood compared to non-runners.

Your Blood Oxygen Normal Values are dependent on your health condition, respiratory rate, percentage of oxygen in the air, activities you are performing, and other factors. Medical conditions like COPD, Asthma, Pneumonia, Lung cancer and cancer treatments like chemotherapy, smoking habit or vaping can affect the lungs capacity to transfer oxygen to the blood, thus bringing down your blood oxygen levels in a permanent way. For more details and answers to your questions visit your doctor's office.

Medicare will pay for oxygen therapy and oxygen equipment if your SpO2 readings are below 88%. If your blood oxygen saturation falls under 88% consistently, consult with a doctor immediately. Many doctors want their patients to have their SpO2 above 90%.

Sleep apnea may affect your SpO2 level. In fact, monitoring your SpO2 level while sleeping is a good way to measure your condition. To learn more about Screening for Sleep Apnea, visit Screening Sleep Apnea with Pulse Oximeters

Recently we have learned that Finger Pulse Oximeters are becoming an essential tool for detecting early Covid-19 caused Pneumonia in patients, even when they are not showing pneumonia symptoms, as reported by Doctor Richard Levitan in The New York Times article The Infection That�s Silently Killing Coronavirus Patients

When tracking your oxygen levels in your blood pay attention to the trend. If you see anything unusual, it is time to consult your friendly doctor.

Under certain special conditions, a pulse oximeter may not give accurate results. You need to be aware of these limitations when interpreting the result.

Regardless of the reading, one should treat the patient first. The reading is only one of several important assessment criterions. Watch for symptoms of hypoxia or hypoxemia. Furthermore, pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation, not breathing and does not indicate the removal of carbon dioxide from blood. Along with SpO2, one needs to record the respiratory rate to get an indication on breathing. If the patient is having supplementary oxygen, track the amount of oxygen also.

Take appropriate actions if the patient is not feeling OK. Emergency care may be required.

Monitor your pulse rate along with your SpO2. They are predictors of health problems. If you have abnormal readings even for a short period of time, see a doctor. Low or high pulse rate can indicate heart problems.

According to Dr. Fred Furgang in his article "Hypoxia, Oxygen, and Pulse Oximetry," a pilot should use supplemental oxygen if the oximeter reading is below 90%, maintain at 91-92% level when doing remedial tasks and above 93% with increased workload.

The amount of oxygen in the air, which decreases at higher altitude, would have a significant effect on a person's SpO2. A person may have a reading of 98% at sea level; it may decrease to 95% at 5,000 ft. and further to 90% at 10,000 ft. At altitude above 10,000 ft., a person may fail to adjust to the low level of oxygen and his SpO2 may drop below 80% resulting in hypoxic conditions.

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