However, not everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will develop low oxygen levels. It's why you may be wondering if an oximeter can help detect COVID-19 early. In fact, there's a phenomenon we've observed clinically where a person with COVID-19 can have very low oxygen levels but otherwise appear well, termed "happy hypoxia." It's concerning because these patients may be more significantly ill than they feel, certainly warranting closer attention in a medical setting. This oxygen impairment can occur at multiple stages of COVID-19, and not simply for critically ill patients placed on ventilators. Connolly: The new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 enters the body through the respiratory system, causing direct injury to a person's lungs via inflammation and pneumonia - both of which can negatively impact how well oxygen is transferred into the bloodstream. Q: Is a pulse oximeter helpful in catching COVID-19 early?ĭr. Oximeters report blood oxygen levels via an oxygen saturation measurement called peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, or SpO2. When you breathe, oxygen enters your lungs, passes through thin membranes and enters your blood stream - where it's then picked up by red blood cells and carried around the body to various organs.Ī pulse oximeter is a tiny device that usually slides over your fingertip or clips on your ear lobe and uses infrared light refraction to measure how well oxygen is binding to your red blood cells. Connolly: A pulse oximeter is a painless and reliable way for clinicians to measure a person's blood oxygen levels. Q: What is a pulse oximeter and what does it measure?ĭr. Tim Connolly, pulmonologist at Houston Methodist. To get the scoop on pulse oximeters and whether they can actually help detect COVID-19, we spoke to Dr. (Related: Can Your Fitness Tracker Help Warn That You Have COVID-19?) Regardless of your past familiarity with them, you may have noticed lately that pulse oximeters are popping up in the news and your social feeds, in conversation with friends and family and, if you're like me, your CVS receipt full of coupons - all because of COVID-19. Or, maybe you've had one clipped to your finger during a trip the ER or while in the hospital. Ever heard of an oximeter? If you have a lung or heart condition, you may use one periodically at home to monitor your condition.
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