Pulse oximeters: Vital signs, at your fingertips A pulse oximeter is a small medical device that measures heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. It's usually clipped to your finger, but it can ...

Previously, an oximeter was only used in hospitals. But ever since the pandemic, the pulse oximeter occupies the same place as a thermometer, blood pressure machine or a diabetes monitoring kit in ...

Pulse oximetry is an easy and effective way to measure the saturation of oxygen in the blood. Learn to use a pulse oximeter in simple steps. Written by: Chanchal Sengar Updated at: Jul 28, 2020 15 ...

Keep the pulse oximeter on your finger for at least a minute, till the reading stabilises. Record the highest reading that flashes on the oximeter after it has established after 5 seconds.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Consumer Reports says, there’s sudden interest in home pulse oximeter devices, which might help monitor shortness of breath caused by COVID-19.

To use a pulse oximeter, press the device open as you would press a clip or clothespin, and place your finger snugly inside. The device beams different wavelengths of light through your finger.

Pulse oximeters with a history function save data, so you don’t have to jot down your results each time. This is a useful feature to have if you are supposed to be recording results for your doctor.

Doctors say if you use a finger-tip oximeter device to track your oxygen levels due to an underlying health condition, it 's fine -- but for most people, it’s not needed.