What is a pulse oximeter?What is a Pulse Oximeter?Pulse oximeters for home use are small, lightweight monitors that painlessly attach to a fingertip to monitor the amount of oxygen carried in the body. An oxygen level of greater than 95% is generally considered to be a normal oxygen level. An oxygen level of 92% or less (at sea level) suggests a low blood oxygen.1,2 In addition to oxygen level, pulse rate is also displayed. Normal pulse rate values for adults 60-80 beats per minute2. Heart rate can be expected to increase some with exercise and oxygen saturation may slightly decrease (it should still remain at 90% or greater though). Since being invented by Nonin in 1995, the finger pulse oximeter has expanded the availability of pulse oximetry to include at-home patient monitoring. In people with COPD, pulse oximetry is useful as a tool for patients to use at home to assist with their management under physician guidance. Monitoring your oxygen saturation level will help you to adjust your oxygen flow at home, during exercise, and during social activities. It can also assist your doctor in deciding if your COPD is getting worse. For People with COPD, asthma and other lung diseases who want to be active, the quality of the oximeter they use is important. Accurate readings are very important - particularly when patients are active and their oxygen level may be dropping. Nonin invented the world's first finger pulse oximeter. You can trust the Nonin GO2 and range of Nonin Products to provide accurate readings especially when you are active. |