Best Pulse Oximeters for Overnight Monitoring 2021
Pulse oximeters, which simply clip onto your fingertip, are non-invasive devices that can measure blood oxygen saturation as well as pulse (heart rate). They are relatively inexpensive (about $20) and can be purchased for home ("non-medical") use.
An overnight pulse oximeter test is a good initial screening tool to test for signs of sleep apnea. If the percentage of oxygen in the blood is always above 94% during sleep, then your brain is getting enough oxygen. If the brain does not get consistent oxygen during sleep, you might have signs of sleep apnea, which include morning headache, excessive daytime tiredness, insomnia, snoring, gasping for air during sleep, dry mouth, etc.
If you want to discover your blood oxygen levels during your sleep, you could go to a sleep lab to have an overnight sleep study, or you can use a pulse oximeter to monitor sleep at home. The pulse oximeter can be a very useful medical device for sleep apnea patients.
What is a Good Oxygen Level while Sleeping?
There are several items to look at when viewing the pulse oximeter report. The easiest to understand is:
- How long the unit recorded for during the night
- SpO2 Summary, which is an estimate of the amount of oxygen in the blood, and
- SpO2 Distribution
In summary, if your blood oxygen levels drop below 88%, you may possibly have signs of sleep apnea.
Read more on how to identify sleep apnea using a pulse oximeter here.
Best Pulse Oximeters for Overnight Monitoring 2021
What is the best oximeter to buy for overnight monitoring? We’ve put together a list of fingertip oximeters designed to deliver accurate results and peace of mind throughout the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does a Pulse Oximeter Measure?
A pulse oximeter measures the oxygen saturation of your blood. Essentially, this percentage is a calculation of how much oxygen is in the blood, with 100% being 'fully saturated' and the optimal level.
And while this simple non-invasive medical tool is available over the counter in many pharmacies, it's not necessary for most people.
"Unless you have a chronic heart or lung condition that affects your oxygen saturation on a regular basis, most individuals don't need one in their home," says Albert Rizzo, MD, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association.
Those with lung or heart conditions — such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure — may be prescribed home oxygen therapy by their doctor, says Rizzo, and a pulse oximeter can help them to monitor whether the use of oxygen at home is improving their condition or not.
Other warning signs of low blood oxygen levels may include:
- Increased heart rate
- increased breathing rate
- Feeling shortness of breath or gasping for air
- Inability to do an activity that you did before without getting out of breath
How Does a Pulse Oximeter Work?
- Position the probe correctly. Depending on the device, this will usually be on the finger, toe, or earlobe. Make sure it is well-fitted, and not being forced on: for example, try the second toe rather than the big toe. If the probe is too loose or too tight, it may allow extra light in, which will impact the reading.
- Make sure you're sitting still. Shaking or shivering will affect the reading, and may make it seem much lower than it actually is.
- Remove any nail polish. If you're wearing colored nail polish, this might affect the reading. Finger tattoos or henna dye can also affect the reading: in this case, choose a different finger, toe, or earlobe. Cold fingers or toes can also cause false readings.
If you think your pulse oximeter might not be accurate, you can check the pulse reading or heart rate on the pulse oximeter against your own reading of your pulse.
How to Read a Pulse Oximeter
According to WHO, a reading of 95% to 100% on the pulse oximeter is considered healthy and isn't a cause for concern.
If you have no underlying medical conditions, your levels should generally be at 95 or higher. But for people with chronic conditions, it's important to talk with your doctor about what the appropriate reading should be for you, and when you should seek medical attention. For reference, lower levels of blood oxygen saturation may indicate:
- Blocked airways
- Difficulty breathing
- Lung infection
- Poor blood circulation
- Drug interference from anesthesia, muscle relaxants, or anaphylaxis
Collecting data on oxygen levels is crucial because people with COVID-19 may suffer from "silent hypoxia", a dangerous condition in which they do not outwardly appear to be short of breath, but are confirmed to be so through a pulse oximeter test. Pulse oximeters, or pulse ox, measure the amount of oxygenated blood (SpO2) in your body, giving medical professionals an idea of how much oxygen your body is carrying to vital organs and tissues.
Pulse Oximeter Readings - If your SpO2 is around 90 - 94% at rest, you are at the yellow zone or a caution zone. If your SpO2 drops below 90%, you are clearly at the red zone (hypoxic - lack of oxygen in the tissue; hypoxemia - lack of oxygen in the blood) and you'll need to go to the emergency room or the hospital immediately to be evaluated for oxygen support. Do take note that you should not have any nail polish on your nails as it might affect the readings.
Patients with COVID-19 who don’t need immediate hospital attention but are at high risk of developing serious symptoms are to be given pulse oximeters to use at home to reduce the risk of serious deterioration, The BMJ has learnt (BMJ, October 2020).
NHS England is believed to have purchased around 200,000 pulse oximeters for the scheme, which clinical commissioning groups across England will be able to access.
Be careful, however. Many cheap models found on the internet don’t do much to measure accurately. They’re labeled “for recreational use” and aren’t going to give you the measurements you need.
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