Can a German pulse oximeter be inaccurate? Of course, I say. In actuality, any monitoring gadget may provide false data. It is crucial to check the accuracy of any equipment you use frequently. Here, you must first understand what a pulse oximeter is.
A pulse oximeter, often known as a SpO2 detector, is a tool that measures how much oxygen is saturating your blood using light. They are now seen in fitness trackers and even cell phones after being maintained in a medical environment.
They detect oxygen saturation levels and make it simple and quick to check your stats wherever you are. The German pulse oximeter reveals how much oxygen your blood supplies to the tissues.
How Accurate Is Garmin Pulse Ox?
Although Garmin has a reputation for producing durable and precise equipment, there is still some degree of inaccuracy. The ability to set measurement for a specified period, such as day, night, or a spot basis, is one of the characteristics of German pulse ox.
Baylor University experimented on German Fenix at a 12,000 ft high altitude to determine the accuracy of German pulse oximetry. They concluded that Fenix somewhat underestimates heart rate and slightly overestimates SpO2.
Another international team claims that the German Fenix has poor validity at high elevations and cannot measure SpO2. Whose analysis is correct now? We performed a Spot check for blood oxygen level to obtain unwavering proof. The outcomes are listed below.
The precursor value on the Oximeter was 95%, while the test reading was 99%. The oximeters, in contrast, demonstrated perfect agreement with the German Vivosmart at 98%. This means different models of the same brand show various degrees of accuracy.
Experimental’s Results
In light of the findings mentioned above, we concluded that the Garmin pulse ox could not be regarded as a medical diagnosing tool. Although they are helpful, they are less precise than a finger pulse oximeter. Furthermore, phone your healthcare providers right away in suspicious circumstances.
Features Of A Pulse Oximeter
Here are some common features of pulse oximeters that are helpful in various diagnoses.
Two Different Light Wavelengths
A pulse oximeter typically comprises two LEDs with various light wavelengths. Red is one from visible light, while infrared is the other. Blood with oxygen and blood without oxygen absorb light differently.
Deoxygenated blood enables more light to flow through, whereas oxygenated blood absorbs more light.
Saturation Of Blood Oxygen Level,
A SpO2 result of 95% or more is regarded as a normal blood oxygen level by Mayo Clinic. The oxygen saturation level is low at 94% or below. High-altitude residents may exhibit cases of lower blood oxygen saturation.
Detection Of Pulse Rate
Your Oximeter’s PR (Pulse rate) value measures how frequently your blood contracts each minute. Adult humans typically have pulse rates between 60 and 100 beats per minute (beats per minute). A modest pulse rate often indicates that your heart is working effectively.
How Do The Pulse Oximeters work?
Pulse oximeters are tiny, clip-like devices used in medicine. Finger oximeters have become more common recently. To test oxygen levels, you could connect them to your toe or earlobe. By sending out red and infrared light, pulse oximeters can assess blood oxygen saturation.
For your convenience, we’ll break down the entire process into the phases listed below.
- Place the OximeterOximeter on the finger in a warm and relaxed hand
- Sit for a few seconds, and don’t move
- Wait for a while when the reading stops changing and appears as one steady number
- Please write down your oxygen values, then compare them with the next time’s values.
Why We Need Pulse Oximetry?
Considering that every creature requires oxygen to survive. Therefore, a change in its level—either a rise or a decrease—can alter every aspect of the metabolism of tissues and cells. To deliver oxygen to cells, our circulatory system—composed of the lungs, heart, and blood—works together.
Oximetry’s primary objective is to determine whether or not the blood is efficiently loaded with oxygen. Our body’s fluctuating oxygen saturation level can interfere with our metabolic processes if we are ignorant of it. Below are a few of the crucial uses of oximetry.
- To determine a person’s capacity for high levels of activity
- To determine if a ventilator is necessary
- Or to check on the functioning of one that has already been provided, either before or after an operation
- To understand how lung medications to function.
- For identifying sleeping disorders like sleep apnea
How Accurate Are Pulse Oximeters?
According to recent studies, most pulse oximeters are accurate up to 2 to 4% of the exact blood oxygen saturation level. Simply put, the pulse oximeter reading can be 2 to 4% high or 2 to 4% lower than the actual arterial blood oxygen level.
Limitations And Inaccuracy Of Pulse Oximetry
Everything has advantages and disadvantages, and pulse oximeters are no different. The Pulse Oximeter has limitations and might be inaccurate in some situations. Sometimes the error is minor and meaningless. The erroneous measurement may result in an undetected low oxygen level, though.
Determining the limits and unreliability of the pulse oximeter is crucial. The following list includes a few restrictions.
Wrist-Based Limitations
Numerous studies in the medical field have demonstrated that the fingertip is the best site to monitor your blood oxygen saturation level. The most accurate way to assess oxygen saturation is with the fingers.
Two beams of light are typically shone through the finger by a standard finger-based pulse oximeter. They are infrared and red, respectively. However, some people check their SpO2 in different locations, including the wrist, which might result in findings that are erroneous and unnoticed changes in oxygen levels.
Skin-Based Limitations
People with thick skin may receive somewhat less accurate findings from pulse oximetry than those with thin skin. The reason is that thick skin prevents light from passing through effectively, which causes a restriction in pulse oximetry.
The accuracy of pulse oximeters can also be impacted by dark and light skin pigmentation. Moreover, false nails or nail paint might cause pulse oximetry to be erroneous.
Poor Circulation Or Cold hands
When the hands are chilly, the blood circulation is quite poor due to vasodilation, which might significantly impact pulse oximetry. To get an accurate reading in those situations, massage your hands before taking any readings.
Drug Abuse
This is another element influencing the pulse oximeter’s display reading. People who frequently smoke while abusing drugs have high blood levels of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is treated the same as oxygen by an oxygen meter. As a result, the oxygen meter’s reading is altered.
Summing It Up
After all these discussions, we have concluded that the Garmin Pulse oximeter is a convenient tool but not perfect. You should not depend totally on the reading of the Garmin smartwatches for considering it as a pulse oximeter. Check it up with the other medical lab tests to know the device’s accuracy.
People should keep an eye on the trends in the reading of the Garmin Pulse Ox. If the oxygen level drops significantly, you should call your doctor, even if the change is of a small degree. A slight change can affect people’s health to a greater extent.