With the outbreak of infectious diseases, the use of medical devices has increased including the famous oximeters.
These FDA approved devices have made quite some waves within the medical industry. However, the growth limit is not restricted to hospitals and operation theatres. Nowadays, houses with residents that are suffering from serious medical conditions also have oximeters.
People have started taking things into their own hands and it has been stated that this change is only for the better.
Sudden accidents are now avoided, and a patient is well-knowledgeable about their disease and whether it’s taking a turn for the better or worse.
What Are Oximeters?
Oximeters or more popularly known as pulse oximetry refers to a test that measures and records the saturation level of your blood.
Oximeters are non-invasive in nature and in their true self, they can immediately detect the smallest of changes in the oxygen levels. Oxygen levels are a representation of how effectively and efficiently blood is able to carry oxygen to the organs present away from your heart, and these include legs, arms, and feet too.
Pulse OX also known as pulse oximeters are a form of electronic devices and they will be attached either your nose, forehead, fingers, or even toes.
Pulse oximeters are widely used in professional settings to monitor the saturation levels within the blood, of patients that are going through serious health conditions that can include
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Anaemia
- Lung cancer
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Congenital Heart Disease
Why You Must Have an Oximeter in Your Home
Besides being used in critical care settings like emergency areas, and operation theatres, oximeters are also used by pulmonologists. And not surprisingly enough, health conscious individuals have oximeters at their homes too.
The question here arises, does one really need an oximeter at their homes?
Yes, oximeters can be a significant essential for many individuals. And the reasons are never ending.
Some of them are:
- The COVID era has still not left us alone. Even though the name itself isn’t being used anymore, infections and mass-viruses are becoming more common day by day. In times like these, it’s important to take the necessary measures for ensuring a healthy home and environment. Therefore, equipping you home with an oximeter might just be a necessity nowadays. Not only will it help you monitor COVID 19 symptoms like coughing, fever, it also plays a huge role in detecting a viral infection.
- With the help of oximeters, individuals living inside a house can have direct first-hand access to health information. Pulse oximeters provide people with immediate information about their current vitals. Such information is essential for those who need to keep a record of regular numbers.
- Individuals who are suffering from health conditions like cardiovascular or other respiratory illnesses tend to benefit greatly from oximeters. Such a device will help you track oxygen concentration and help greatly in constructing a lifestyle that helps ease the side effects of one’s illness.
How To Read Oximeters
Before starting the process of reading, it’s important to get rid of any jewellery, nail enamel, or other ornaments from the area of application.
To have an accurate reading, make sure your hand is relatively warm and relaxed. The recommended scenario is to have your hand below heart level before attaching the device.
Next take the device and place/attach it on your finger, earlobe, or toe. The device will stay attached for as long as you need the reading of your pulse and oxygen saturation for.
Once you get the desired reading, remove the device and that’s all you need to do to get an oximeter reading at home.
In a pulse oximeter, small beams of light tend to pass through the blood in one’s finger, during the process of oxygen measurement.
Inaccuracies Found In Oximeters
One of the limitations of pulse oximeters is that they may come with a certain degree of inaccuracy in the readings they put forward. However, in most cases the degree of uncertainty is pretty minute and of little significance.
It should be noted that sometimes oximeter readings can lead to unrecognised low oxygen saturation levels. Moreover, according to research, oximeters may not show accurate results when tested on darker skin.
The reason isn’t yet identified, and continuous efforts are being made to eradicate the issue.
However, oximeters that are FDA approved tend to have little to no inaccuracies. Therefore, it can be stated that even in case of incorrectness, it will not be clinically meaningful.
Are Oximeters Safe To Use
Prescription pulse oximeters are extremely useful tools and almost all of them are FDA approved. And when a device is FDA approved it’s deemed to be safe.
Pulse oximeters are needle-free tests which means that no substance will be entering into your body. Simply, the device will monitor whether your lungs and hearts are distributing enough oxygen for each and every organ of the body.
Such a simple process is not going to harm the body or cause dysfunctionalities.
The test is painless and extremely quick in nature. It can even be attached to a body part while the person is sleeping.
Therefore, oximeters are safe for usage.
Current Market For Oximeters
The global market for oximeters was recorded to have a gross value of $2.8 billion by the end of 2022. And according to reports, this value will only rise in the future.
The projected growth rate for this market is going to be 8.8% reaching a whopping value of $4.3 billion by 2027.
The main driver of this market is the increase in respiratory diseases, congenital heart diseases, enhancement in surgical procedures and hospitalizations and technological advancements.
Conclusion
Consciousness regarding one’s health is not something extreme or extravagant. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Therefore, equipping your house with an oximeter or two will only provide benefits.
FDA cleared oximeters are the only safe. Therefore, choose a supplier that will provide you with high-quality legitimate oximeters.
When it comes to medical devices like oximeters, AKW has always been leading the market.
In case you’re looking for one, you know where to go!
