CMS pulse oximeters are medical gadgets that help medical professionals determine, somewhat indirectly, if a patient is getting enough oxygen. The devices clip onto the finger, the earlobes or, in infants, a foot. What they actually measure is the amount of hemoglobin that is fully loaded up with oxygen. In most people, this figure should be at least 95% or more.
It really is fascinating that a simple instrument can take a measurement down to the molecular level without being stuck underneath the skin. This isn't the place to go into the smoke and mirrors physics, but it is something to do with absorbing light. Somehow, the machine to which the oximeter is attached can calculate the concentration of oxygen circulating in a patient's arterial blood.
While this is an excellent way of screening sick people from really sick people, a more accurate measurement is obtained by measuring oxygen directly from arterial blood. This is important in places like intensive care units or when a patient is under anesthesia having an operation.
Jamming a needle into an artery, which are by design very thick, is very painful for the patient. Because of this, it is not routinely done unless it is really necessary. The feeling of having a needle pierce into an artery has been compared to having a sharp implement poking directly into a bone.
A pulse oximeter may also be used for research purposes, for example, during sleeping studies. These investigations are performed when a patient is suspected to have a condition called sleep apnea. People with this type of disorder are unable to breathe, sometimes for dangerously long periods, while they are sleeping. This can result in stroke, heart attack or even death. At best, it can leave people foggy headed and tired the next day.
There are two categories of sleep apnea, neurological and obstructive. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is more common than neurological sleep apnea, but no less dangerous. Treatments may include a device that is prescribed by a dentist to keep the mouth partially open at night, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or, in extreme cases, surgery to correct an anatomic deformity that makes the airway unable to open.
Central, or neurological sleep apnea, is less common and harder to treat than OSA. Instead of stopping the breathing process, the brain doesn't attempt it. There is often a serious condition underlying neurological OSA that affects the brain stem. This is the brain area that is responsible for breathing and heart rate. Neurological sleep apnea can happen by itself or in combination with OSA.
The biggest risk factors for sleep apnea are being overweight, male gender or being over the age of 40. However, sleep apnea can happen to anybody. Some small babies can stop breathing for as long as 20 seconds, which is very disturbing for already anxious new parents. If a baby is discovered to be at risk for this condition, the parents can obtain an alarm that will alert them if and when this happens. CMS pulse oximeters are also available for use at home.
It really is fascinating that a simple instrument can take a measurement down to the molecular level without being stuck underneath the skin. This isn't the place to go into the smoke and mirrors physics, but it is something to do with absorbing light. Somehow, the machine to which the oximeter is attached can calculate the concentration of oxygen circulating in a patient's arterial blood.
While this is an excellent way of screening sick people from really sick people, a more accurate measurement is obtained by measuring oxygen directly from arterial blood. This is important in places like intensive care units or when a patient is under anesthesia having an operation.
Jamming a needle into an artery, which are by design very thick, is very painful for the patient. Because of this, it is not routinely done unless it is really necessary. The feeling of having a needle pierce into an artery has been compared to having a sharp implement poking directly into a bone.
A pulse oximeter may also be used for research purposes, for example, during sleeping studies. These investigations are performed when a patient is suspected to have a condition called sleep apnea. People with this type of disorder are unable to breathe, sometimes for dangerously long periods, while they are sleeping. This can result in stroke, heart attack or even death. At best, it can leave people foggy headed and tired the next day.
There are two categories of sleep apnea, neurological and obstructive. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is more common than neurological sleep apnea, but no less dangerous. Treatments may include a device that is prescribed by a dentist to keep the mouth partially open at night, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or, in extreme cases, surgery to correct an anatomic deformity that makes the airway unable to open.
Central, or neurological sleep apnea, is less common and harder to treat than OSA. Instead of stopping the breathing process, the brain doesn't attempt it. There is often a serious condition underlying neurological OSA that affects the brain stem. This is the brain area that is responsible for breathing and heart rate. Neurological sleep apnea can happen by itself or in combination with OSA.
The biggest risk factors for sleep apnea are being overweight, male gender or being over the age of 40. However, sleep apnea can happen to anybody. Some small babies can stop breathing for as long as 20 seconds, which is very disturbing for already anxious new parents. If a baby is discovered to be at risk for this condition, the parents can obtain an alarm that will alert them if and when this happens. CMS pulse oximeters are also available for use at home.
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