The technological evolution in the domain of health-care has progressed immensely spanning a wide variety of procedures, both invasive and non-invasive, aimed at keeping track of one’s health, maintaining it safe and stable as well as treating diseases that have once been thought to be untreatable. In the case of cardiovascular or respiratory problems, there are certain procedures that prove to be very efficient in learning more about the nature of the condition and developing a proper cure.
In case that you are afflicted by any cardiovascular or respiratory condition, your health care practitioner may prescribe pulse oximetry. This is a procedure you can undergo whether at home, in a specialized clinic or at the hospital. Currently, pretty much all the hospitals and health care facilities use pulse oximeters prior to succumbing the patient who developed respiratory or cardiovascular problems to any particular treatment.
Pulse Oximeters are medical devices used to measure blood oxygen circulation as well as heart rate. They can be hand held containing a wire probe that can be easily applied to any of the toe, finger or earlobe areas, or they can come as small units containing a built-in finger clip. A pulse oximeter measures the oxygen saturation levels in the blood by shining light through your finger or earlobe. The oxygenated blood has a bright red color whilst deoxygenated blood has a much darker red color towards purple and blue.
The device has a built-in calculator that instantly measures the ratio between the two colors and ultimately displays on the screen the percentage of the oxygen level in the blood. A minimum of 89% oxygen saturation in the blood is required for proper functioning. Anything below is subject to treatment as a way to increase oxygenation within the blood. The device also measures your heart rate with the aim to deliver more accurate results.
The procedure is non-invasive, painless and hassle-free. It takes very little time and can be performed at a hospital upon request or out of necessity, or it can be performed at home whenever you need to find out your blood oxygen levels.
It is highly recommended that you perform regular medical check-ups and discuss with your health care practitioner over the recommended percentage of oxygen saturation within your blood. Your doctor will keep track of your health background as well as your current health condition to ensure you keep it in the safe zone. If you ask your doctor about the right time to use a pulse oximeter, he will most likely tell you that you should perform the procedure during activities that require accelerated heart rate such as sports or exercise practiced at home. This will help you discover whether you have low or high oxygen in the blood and figure out the impact it has on your condition once you finish working out.
Investing in a pulse oximeter for use at home is the best thing you can do to keep track of the oxygen saturation in your blood. Especially if you suffer from any cardiovascular or lung disease or practice sports and exercise daily at home, you need to ensure you have high levels of oxygen in the blood because it is what eventually makes your body run smoothly.
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