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Lung Health | Last Active: Dec 12, 2023 | Replies (131)
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Good point about home oximeters. I tried using it while walking, but erratic. Do you know of any good oximeters to use while outside walking?
Sitting at home my O2 is fine (95 and above). I had recent stent and did cardio rehab and they took oxygen readings at various levels of exertion on the treadmill. My O2 drops to 88/89 with mild to moderate exertion and my Pulmonolgist is fine with that. My O2 does drop lower with longer moderate exertion and in cardio rehab they had me do "intervals" or 4min lower exertion, 1 min greater exertion. My O2 did improve with exercise and both Pulmonologist and Cardiologist tell me to exercise! Of course, I have lung cancer and possible interstitial disease
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Hello, I personally have not tried a "wearable" pulse oximeter, but there have been a few small studies of specific devices. But in your circumstances, I would sure be interested in finding one, for my own peace of mind while exercising.
- Here is a highly technical one published recently about wearable finger & wrist pulse oximeters:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8889481/
The takeaway I got after reading it, because others have also asked, is that there are both finger worn and wrist worn devices. As long as you recognize that they have limitations, such as all being off by 1-3%, and potentially needing to go through a calibration for you, these should be helpful. As of 2020, a small study concluded that there was too much variability for smart watches to be considered accurate, but that's a long time in electronics so that may be different.
If I were on a quest for a wearable oximeter, I would ask at cardio rehab if they had a recommendation, or even one I could try. Can you contact them for help?
Sue