Understanding Your Pulse Oximeter Readings: A Comprehensive Guide

An oximeter is an electronic device that indirectly measures the level of oxygen in your blood by analyzing infrared light patterns over a fingertip, earlobe, or toe. The information from an oximeter, provided as a saturation percentage, can help your doctor to determine whether your body's cells are getting enough oxygen. If you have asthma or another chronic respiratory condition, or if you suffer from sleep apnea, your doctor may suggest that you use an oximeter at home to track your blood's oxygen levels.

Things You'll Need

• Oximeter

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Instructions

• 1

  Follow instructions on how to place the oximeter. Most home oximeters fit over a fingertip.

• 2

  Look at the display. You should see two numbers, one labeled "PR" and one labeled "SpO2." PR stands for pulse rate and tells how many times your heart is beating per minute. SpO2 is an abbreviation that means "oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry."

• 3

  Record the numbers from the display in a notebook or other log, noting the date and time, and contact your doctor if the readings are below the recommended level for your condition.