Pulse Oximeter Guidance
Pulse oximeters have great potential in the early detection of severe Coronavirus. We now know that for many patients the virus will gradually constrict the volume of the lungs without filling them with fluid. Patients will then naturally increase their breathing and heart rates without becoming short of breath. This process can get worse until the lung capacity is so diminished and the body is so weakened that the patients can no longer breath freely. Patients thus end up in the ER with blood oxygen levels that are not consistent with consciousness. The body becomes so weak that it can no longer resist bacteria from entering the lungs causing patients to end up with pneumonia and on ventilators which have very high mortality rates. This can all often be prevented with a simply pulse oximeter that will alert people of a drop in blood oxygen levels BEFORE there is severe distress, allowing them to seek preventative early treatment well before it is too late. We strongly recommend that everyone make pulse oximeter readings part of their daily routine.
Quality does vary. We strongly recommend only using pulse oximeters that take fingertip readings and that are FDA approved (as apposed to “cleared”) with 510(K) notification. Pulse oximeters built into smart watches and bracelets cannot be considered sufficiently reliable for medical settings.
