Using A Pulse Oximeter To Detect Heart Disease
A pulse oximeter is a medical device that is used to measure a patient's pulse rate and oxygenation level. This medical device can be used in a number of medical situations including cardiac health, respiratory health, blood oxygenation, and forensic applications. Pulse oximeters have been around for decades and provide vital sign monitoring in many different settings. This medical device has evolved over the years to become an essential tool that can provide vital sign monitoring in many different situations.
Pulse oximeters are used to monitor oxygenation at different parts of the body. Pulse oximeter readings are usually within 2% of the optimal value of arterial oxygenation from blood oxygen analysis. The fingertip pulse oximeter can provide oxygenation measurements in the finger tip of the ear, the mouth, the nose, or the skin. There are several different pulse oximeter devices available to provide these vital sign readings and some monitors actually incorporate several different methods of determining the percentage of saturation. These are known as percentage of saturation or PSV.
The reason why pulse oximeter devices determine the percentage of total oxygen saturation is because blood absorbs different amounts of oxygen at different stages of oxygen processing. Oxygen saturation percentage is equal to the percentage of saturated blood oxygen. The red blood cells, which are the ones that transport oxygen to all of the body organs, require a certain amount of oxygen to function properly. The heart requires a certain amount of oxygen as well, but the lungs need a higher amount than the heart or the body to function properly. A pulse oximeter monitors the amount of oxygen in the blood by measuring the amount of absorption time (time it takes to get the oxygen to the lungs).
In order for a pulse oximeter to measure vital signs accurately, the patient and/or the patient's caregiver must ensure proper breathing practices are being followed while at home. Breathing should be normal and regular, consistent with medications prescribed for the patient. Patients should never smoke cigarettes or consume alcohol while under this treatment; doing so can drastically alter the percentage of oxygen saturation level may provide. For further details relating to pulse oximeters, then read more here.
Breathing is not the only way that low oxygen levels in the blood occur. The brain utilizes other oxygen-sourced mechanisms to obtain nourishment, such as from supplemental oxygen molecules that are produced in the lungs. When these molecules are reduced in amount, the patient is considered to have low oxygen levels. A pulse oximeter, in conjunction with a monitor that measures and analyzes the percentage of oxygen molecules absorbed, can accurately determine whether or not low oxygen levels are present in the blood.
Many individuals utilize a pulse oximeter as an additional medical device in order to detect any underlying medical conditions. The percentage of the oxygen absorbed (oximeter percentage) is proportional to the percentage of oxygen being absorbed by the body tissue. For example, if someone has a high percentage of oxygen absorbed, their readings will show a "hot" sensation, indicating a low percentage of oxygen in the blood. Individuals suffering from low blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, high cholesterol, and/or respiratory conditions should always monitor their pulse rate, temperature and other vital signs regularly in order to detect and treat any health issues they may be experiencing. View here https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-to-know-pulse-oximeter_l_5ff49022c5b65a922911edd1 to get more enlightened on the topic.
