What's an Oximeter and do I need one?
If you are young and healthy and do not do any type of strenuous or endurance sports, you probably do not have an oximeter at home. But if you have Covid-19 or suspect that you might, an oximeter could turn out to be pretty darn useful. And oximeter is a small device that you put on your finger and then it tells you about the Oxygen levels in your blood. This Oxygen level is referred to as the SpO2; aka, Oxygen saturation level, and that and your pulse are what an oximeter measures. An SpO2 level between 95% and 97% is considered normal; anything below that could be a reason to call a doctor. Anything under 90% would be a reason to go to the emergency room immediately.
The benefits of pulse oximetry monitoring are obvious to athletes; monitoring your Oxygen levels while working out can help you make adjustments so that you get a more even Oxygen flow and better performance throughout your workout session. Among patients who have COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, fever, and shortness of breath, the benefits are also quite clear. If you are symptomatic, measuring your vital signs and Oxygen is a good way for you to assess if your condition can be managed at home, or if it really is time to go to the hospital. Denyse Lutchmansingh, MD, a Yale Medicine pulmonologist, says that one of the deciding factors for bringing patients into the hospital is their Oxygen level.
Let’s face it, shortness of breath, a common Covid symptom, is hard to self-assess. Are you short of breath because the air is polluted, or you have been walking more briskly than usual, or are you actually getting sick? And is it just a cold, or something more serious? Some COVID-19 patients suddenly develop a condition called “silent hypoxia,” where the patient looks and feels comfortable, and doesn’t notice any shortness of breath, but has dangerously low oxygen levels. It happens to patients who are in the hospital, too, but when it happens to someone at home, it is a lot more dangerous. The symptom may indicate severe COVID-19-related pneumonia, which could require a ventilator. For that reason people have started to wonder whether it wouldn’t be a good idea to monitor their oxygen saturation levels at home, even if they don’t have symptoms.
Oximeters are readily available. You can even get one here on Lung Dragon. If you want to start using an oximeter, it’s always a good idea to check with your general practitioner to find out what your standard oxygen level is when you're healthy. That way you can easily see changes, and will have concrete information that you can share with your doctor. Changes in your Oxygen level can happen for a variety of reasons, it doesn’t have to be COVID-related; if you have asthma, or pneumonia, for example, you could also see such changes. The reason for an inaccurate reading could also be something simple; if your fingernails are dirty or you have artificial nails or are wearing nail polish.
Shortness of breath and low oxygen levels are just two possible symptoms of COVID-19. The CDC provides a list of symptoms that could appear anywhere between 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. That list includes cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. Check the CDC website for the full and updated list, and stay safe!
References:
Mayo Clinic
YaleMedicine.org
CDC Center for Disease Control