how to monitor your blood oxygen level

You have likely seen the flashing warning lights in your car when something is wrong; however, our bodies do not have flashing warning lights.

But you can make sure your blood oxygen levels are normal by using a simple pulse oximeter which can be obtained at any drug store (see picture below).

Typically a healthcare provider will recommend that oxygen levels stay above 90%, though if you have a pre-existing condition such as COPD, your healthcare provider may set your level => 88%. If you your loved on has COPD, check out the lung exerciser called " The Breather" below.

This tool is handy to monitor daily, and at rest, you can look for trends. So if you watch your oxygen level daily and typically you’re above 95%, and tomorrow you find that you’re at 93% and the next day at 90%, you could have some underlying conditions such as an infection like pneumonia, asthma, or bronchitis. 

If you monitor your oxygen levels daily, you will identify any issues as early as possible. It could be a visit with your healthcare provider versus a catastrophic event that leaves you hospitalized and in rehab for a long time.

I have also included a great tool to exercise your lungs called " The Breather", see the link below.


EASY TO USE PULSE OXIMETER

The Breather is a respiratory trainer or respiratory exerciser that improves lung strength and capacity by improving oxygen uptake to vital organs. 

YOU CAN ORDER IT HERE 

WHICH VITAL SIGNS TO MONITOR

  • HEART RATE MONITORING

    If your heart rate is too high, also known as tachycardia, this could be caused by an underlying condition such as an infection or a heart issue

  • BODY TEMPERTURE

    First off is your temperature; as we all know, if your temperature is above 101.0°F, you likely have some infectious process going on. The sooner you obtain care, the less likely it is to become catastrophic and require hospitalization.

  • CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

    Taking your blood pressure every day can prevent a disaster from happening. I find that more people understand how their car works as compared to how their blood pressure works.

  • WARNING LIGHTS VITAL SIGNS

    What you should know about vital signs and why they’re important

  • WEIGHT MONITORING

    Watching your weight with a disease processes such as congestive heart failure, as weight gain overnight could indicate worsening of your condition.

  • MONITORING BLOOD SUGAR

    Blood sugar levels in a healthy range prevents low glucose levels which can cause a loss of function and prevent high glucose levels that causes damage.