Hello everyone,

   John here at AffinityHM. I'm here to tell you guys about the pulse oximeter. What advantages can having a pulse oximeter offer in the Covid-19 pandemic? The answer is simple; it allows you to check your O2 saturation.

   Now, let me explain. According to a study at the National Center for Biotechnology, they posted, "The generally accepted standard is that a normal resting oxygen saturation of less than 95% is considered abnormal." (note, below 95% is abnormal in a healthy individual, but for someone with COPD or other lung disease, the normal baseline may be lower, and one must find out their baseline before we could understand just what an abnormally low oxygen saturation actually is for them).

   Alright so what does this mean?  According to WebMd, in some patients,  the Covid-19 virus can attack your lungs and cause inflammation causing shortness of breath. This inflammation can cause infection and damage the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs that convert oxygen into carbon dioxide. When these air sacs, are damaged, they are less efficient, which in turn yields less oxygen in the blood. Therefore if one does become sick with Covid-19 and they are particularly worried about the saturation of oxygen of their blood, a pulse ox can be used to monitor it. If your saturation drops too low, supplemental oxygen may be used to bring it to a stable level, however this is going to be determined by a doctor. Any patient whose saturation that is abnormally low (below 95) should contact their doctor. Covid-19 is still a relatively new virus and new information regarding its effect on the body are still being unraveled. While the pulse ox is a handy tool to have, you should still take the proper measure to get tested and treated if you suspect you have the Covid-19 virus.  Pulse oximeters can be used to help monitor your oxygen saturation, and if nothing else provide peace of mind. However, it must be said that even if your saturation is within normal limits and you are sick with covid or struggling with breathing, you still need to seek out the medical advice from your doctor.

Having a pulse ox on hand, has other benefits as well. Chris, has done a video on YouTube that explains in depth how the pulse ox functions and who may be benefit from having one. Here is the link for the video:

 This concludes my blog on the advantage of  having a pulse oximeter during the times of Covid-19. I hope this blog provided some more information on the pulse ox demand. I sincerely wish everyone a safe and happy summer despite the downsides of the current situation. We thank all our customers here at Affinity for the support and we are here to answer any questions if they arise. Have a fantastic day!

John 

AffinityHM

Reference links:

https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus-covid-19-affects-body#1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525974/

AffintyHM

Buy Pulse Oximeter: https://affinityhm.com/collections/pulse-oximeters/products/fingertip-pulse-oximeter-w-carry-case-and-lanyard

Oxygen saturation is the fraction of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin relative to total hemoglobin (unsaturated + saturated) in the blood. The human body requires and regulates a very precise and specific balance of oxygen in the blood. Normal blood oxygen levels in humans are considered 95–100 percent. If the level is below 90 percent, it is considered low resulting in hypoxemia.^[1]Blood oxygen levels below 80 percent may compromise organ function, such as the brain and heart, and should be promptly addressed. Continued low oxygen levels may lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest. Oxygen therapy may be used to assist in raising blood oxygen levels. Oxygenation occurs when oxygen molecules (O
2) enter the tissues of the body. For example, blood is oxygenated in the lungs, where oxygen molecules travel from the air and into the blood. Oxygenation is commonly used to refer to medical oxygen saturation.