Real-time monitoring of blood oxygen levels now allows clinicians and patients to actually diagnose illnesses such as hypoxemia and sleep apnea at an early stage. Thus continuous monitoring of blood oxygen saturation has become vital in personal health management as it presents an indication of whether the lungs are functioning properly.
People who want to monitor their oxygen levels at home may wonder know how to choose the right oxygen monitor. Here are some tips collected by Wellue.
How to Choose the Right Pulse Oximeter
When you are going to choose the suitable home-use continuous oxygen monitor, better to refer to choosing tips as following.
1. Certification check & Review reference
Before paying for your order, you have to remember that accuracy is the most important factor to decide whether to buy medical equipment. The best way to make sure of the accuracy before you actually use the monitor is to check for the certifications and refer to the customer reviews. Someone who has bought and used the product will have their sounds online to phrase or make complaints, which sometimes can help you judge the quality.
Some reliable certifications are provided by a few organizations, such as the FDA and CE. Those organizations will review the quality and standards to assure the accuracy of the medical device.
2. Oxygen monitor type selection
In terms of design, if you do not consider other factors, just choose your favorite type, ring, or wrist, whatever is okay. But if you want to monitor the SpO2 for the whole night, we will strongly recommend you to choose the continuous overnight oxygen monitor rather than the fingertip pulse oximeter. As you know, the fingertip pulse oximeter uses the spot-checking approaches. If you do not have the need to monitor the oxygen saturation for several hours, the cheap fingertip pulse oximeter is more suitable.
3. Price & Features comparison
The price of oxygen monitors ranges from 10USD to 200USD. The general fingertip pulse oximeter is much cheaper and you can find one in pharmacies or online stores. As for the continuous overnight oxygen monitor, the price is slightly higher, as its function is improved well.
In terms of features, you can make your decision about what you need. Some have a bright and clear display; some are water-resistant; some can achieve remote monitoring. Also remember to consider if it is light to carry, comfortable to wear, easy to use, durable and portable.
Recommending the Right Pulse Oximeter – Wellue Continuous Oxygen Monitors
Some Benefits of Wellue Continuous Overnight Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor
Continuous oxygen monitoring is a better way to prescribe long-term oxygen therapy.
First, it can monitor one’s oxygen saturation over time, providing more utility for trends over time instead of absolute thresholds.
Second, if your oxygen levels are dangerously low or your abnormal heart rates are detected, it can alert with vibration or audio alarm on the free APP ViHealth, such as O2Ring continuous oxygen monitor and SleepU oxygen monitor, which is particularly helpful for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Third, using this product to monitor the blood oxygen saturation actually could offer peace of mind to people with obstructive sleep apnea, chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, or people under anesthesia.
Fourth, it can also help assess the need for supplemental oxygen. For instance, when this is done overnight, a continuous measurement can be graphed and stored on your phone. The graph helps the doctor see if you have enough oxygen in your body when you sleep and ensure the amount of supplemental oxygen.
Fifth, the continuously monitored blood oxygen saturation level will indicate dangerous side effects in people taking drugs that affect breathing or oxygen saturation.
Personal Healthcare Expert. MS in Sleep Apnea & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Johns Hopkins University.