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By Harriett Crosby


Most people know that their pulse, or heart rate, can be measured, and that this measurement may be necessary for several medical reasons. During a general check up at the doctor, your heart rate will most likely be determined to see if it is normal. Oximetry is the medical term used to describe the measurement of how much oxygen is within the blood at any given time. For this purpose, the wrist pulse oximeter has been developed.

Oximeters are equipment with various designs, and mostly they are found in large health institutions, such as hospitals. Nurses and doctors will use them in the critical care units and in the emergency department of the facility; and possibly in other areas as well. However, people also need the device outside of a hospital, and this is why they have been created in the form of a wristwatch. They will be needed when someone is in danger of their oxygen levels falling below an acceptable range.

Wristwatch oximeters are not cumbersome in any way, and have all the features of a hospital's unit. They have a memory of possibly up to eighty hours, which means that every reading can be stored. However, when the memory is full, the information must first be deleted or transferred before the device will work again. These wristwatch devices have been approved for usage by the FDA.

The wristwatch oximeters are usually used on one's finger, but on the earlobe or on a toe are common places too. The device does not hurt in any way, as it is non-invasive, and works with red and infrared lights. They are ideally bought by people who wish to monitor their levels of oxygen during sleep, study or exercise, or because they have asthma.

Although a large amount of the light is taken in by body tissue, the bit that is not will show the hemoglobin saturation levels. The reading is shown in a percentage, and a healthy level of oxygen is indicated at between ninety-five and ninety-eight percent. It is still fine if the level of oxygen reaches as low as ninety percent, but below this level the patient will need to receive oxygen for respiratory distress relief. The body's cells are unable to function properly when oxygen levels are this low.

Oximeters give quite accurate readings, but there are certain things that cause unreliable readings. There must be a strong pulse rate in order for the device to work. Patients who have an irregular heartbeat will not be able to get an accurate reading. A patient will also struggle if they have a very weak heart rate.

Furthermore, the accuracy of the device is hindered by movement, as it affects the way the light is produced. The person being tested must remain still. The device works with light, and therefore the presence of other bright lights could affect its reliability. Since that oximeters can produce results that are inaccurate, several readings should always be taken.

Computer programs will need to be purchased along with the wrist pulse oximeter, but they are easy to find. The long battery life and the fact that they can be used even whilst wearing nail polish are additional advantages. They will also have a guarantee of quality.




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