Silent hypoxia; measure your Oxygen

[Yuck]

New York Times article on the virus:

nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opin...

Worth a read!

Best everyone!

~ Yuck

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Given oximeters will soon be as unobtainable as masks and hand gel, checking your respiration rate may have to suffice. Ideally that should be done by someone when you are unaware that they are doing so. Nurses are excellent at doing this as part of your 'obs' or observations.

Neil

[lexie in reply to AussieNeil]

Good to know there is a practical alternative to an O2 meter.

I ordered one last week and received it this week, at the suggestion from a fellow HU member, before this article appeared. It takes batteries so if anyone finds one they also need to locate or order batteries. Mine came without any.

[Hidden in reply to AussieNeil]

We purchased an oximeter a few years ago. Same as the physicians' offices use and was relatively inexpensive. I use it once or twice a week. Always good at 98, 99. over 79, 80.

[EugeneL2]

great read. Thank you for sharing. Glad I have two oximeters at home bought years ago.

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

This is a great article. I was going to post it, but you beat me to it. I just ordered an oximeter from Amazon (US). I suspect, as Neil said, that they will disappear fast. A few models were marked out of stock currently. I don’t know what will show up for those in other countries.

[AdrianUK]

Ideally you really don’t want to wait till you are hypoxic before seeking help. If you’ve been ill for more than a week and have breathlessness or have stopped doing almost all your activities you should probably get checked out. Particularly if you are unable to hold down a conversation either because you are struggling to breath or because you are struggling to think.

Another helpful measure you can use is your pulse which is on the pulse oximeter too and is probably likely to go up before the oxygen goes down. You can also measure this with a smart watch or simply by counting your pulse for 30 seconds and doubling it.

In general if you are concerned it’s best to ask for advice from a doctor or nurse over the phone and the only dangerous thing about buying an oximeter would be if a good reading meant that you didn’t ask for help when you otherwise would. So in other words if it is low yes ask for help but don’t be too reassured by it if it is high.

[JustAGuy]

Would an oximeter on my fitness band do the job? I do not consider it extremely accurate, but it does have one. I usually get readings between 98 and 95. It seems to fluctuate.

[Yuck]

I am no expert. We got our oximeter that includes pulse a couple years ago after a bout with pneumonia.

The numbers in the 90’s can bounce around.

Your band seems to be registering in a typical range. Can it be trusted? Good question.

As an aside, I understand that when people purchase a blood pressure cuff, a physician might want to check its accuracy. The cuff that goes on the wrist might be less accurate than the one that goes above the elbow.

Hope this helps!

(I am not in the medical field.)

Stay fit!

~ Yuck