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My husbands pulse ox jumps around
So my husband who is 30, just had a check up annual of course and the doctor said he was healthy. I noticed on his vitals his pulse ox was 96. So I worried and bought a at home pulse ox. When taking readings his pulse ox will be at 96 then dropped at one point to 92 (we were riding in the truck talking) then back up to 95 where it stayed. He says he doesn’t feel short of breath and he isn’t blue and fingernails look good but I’m worried to death. I took it again today and it was 94 after he got done cleaning his truck and then between 94-96 then it rested again at 95. I just bought this pulse ox today it’s brand new from Walmart.
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So, do you feel you can relax a bit now? Remember, there is no "one size fits all" but home medical devices (and even pulse oximeters in many doctors' offices) are made that way. So people use them and get very worried... This used to be a big problem with home blood pressure monitors too - they sold the same size for a person weighing 100 pounds, and one weighing 300 - no way you would get an accurate fit for both of them! No most have more adjustabilty.
Sue
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1 ReactionI just went to the doctor Monday the 6th of may
All of my blood work I reference to my blood cells that are about oxygen are within the good range and overall on most everything else now my oxygen level was 93 I was pretty shocked as it’s normally a lot higher in the past however the doctor never said a word about it and said I was stable overall and made no changes so then I go home and checked my oxygen till I’m crazy from it and it’s been bouncing from low 90s to mid 90s and depending on how I sit it does rise till around 96 sometimes, so although I’m concerned I’m obviously ok or they would of had me to go to the ER or etc, and the doctor is in a facility with many tools like mri and mini operation facility so I figure they wouldn’t let me out if they were thinking I’m in distress . I am slightly congested at Times from allergy’s so that could be a factor but who knows , also I have walked as much as 6 miles in a day within the last
6 weeks and it didn’t phase me. Hope that is some comfort.
There are so many things that can effect the Pulse Ox's..they're very temperamental....activity, cold hands, if you just walked from the Dr waiting room to the exam room. The Key number is 88%....do no want to be in the 88-89 range for any period of time. If you don't feel in distress, your color is good and you are breathing with ease, just slow down and take some deep slow breaths until it comes back up. If you can walk 6 miles in a day with little discomfort that is Great! I can just clear my throat and my O2 Sats will come up by 2 points. As we use to say in the ICU, yes, look at the numbers, but look at the patient too!
@goldfinger58 ,
Pulse oximeter readings will vary as others have mentioned. When the reading drop below 90%, doctors are concerned. I have heart failure, AFib, valve regurgitation, and pulmonary hypertension. My resting pulse oximeter reading is 95-97%, but it can drop with exertion or exercise to the mid 80's. My Cardiologist, EP, Pulmonologist, and Sleep Medicine doctors all tell me to keep it over 90%. Cardiology encourages me to keep exercising because exercise is good for the heart.
When I walk 3-5 miles my oxygen level averages 91%, but it can drop to the mid 80's. I have to adjust my activity level, and focus on correct breathing to bring it back up.
I developed heart issues in 2020-2021 and hypoxia after Covid. I was put on home oxygen. My heart issues and oxygen levels have improved thanks to my dedication to exercise.
I use the Lookee Tech Sleep Pro oximeter to monitor my oxygen levels because it is a continuous oximeter that graphs values over time, and it will vibrate or buzz when my oxygen drops below 90%.