Does a pulse oximeter actually work underwater for scuba diving purposes

Jan 15
12:28

2011

Jacob  Walters

Jacob Walters

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Pulse oximeter used in scuba diving.

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Scuba divers have always wanted a health device that they can take with them when they go scuba diving in order to monitor their oxygen levels. The reason it is important to do this is actually because they are operating at such depths that oxygen is at a scarcity. As such,Does a pulse oximeter actually work underwater for scuba diving purposes Articles it is critically important t ensure that they are getting enough O2 that their body is not at risk of hypoxia. Hypoxia refers to a medical condition that occurs when the body does not get enough O2 in the system and as such the tissue may begin to die. A pulse oximeter is actually a great device that can help monitor this health condition for scuba divers. A pulse oximeter has been around for decades but its use as a portable medical device has only come about as of the past decade. Now the question is whether a pulse oximeter can actually be used underwater with the diver. The answer to this question is that the person would need to put the device within a contraption that would shield it from water as that would damage the computer. If they are able to shield it from the water then they can actually use it underwater. Divers actually like the device because it is very small and portable and they can take it with them wherever they want without having to worry about the fact that it may become a hassle to transport with them. These pulse oximeter devices were never portable and actually were only found in the hospital settings. But with the advent of new chip technology they were transformed to something completely mobile and that can be taken anywhere that the person desired to go while still monitoring their health to ensure that they are functioning at optimal levels. A pulse oximeter works quite effectively to measure the pulse rate as well as the blood oxygen saturation of an individual The device is only a fraction of the size of a typical cell phone and thus it is extremely portable. It also is very accurate and instantly gives a reading of the oxygen saturation as well as pulse rate within seconds. By inserting your finger inside the portable device an infrared light passes through you finger. Hemoglobin absorbs light at different frequencies and as such the infrared light that goes through the finger bounces back to the oximeter device computer with a number that represents the oxygen levels of the body. This number means the world to people who live with conditions that require accurate monitoring of the oxygen levels in the body. Oximeter devices continue to break ground not only in the hospital setting but also the home setting as well. No longer do individuals need to be at their physician’s office or a hospital in order to take advantage of such a device to monitor their health. The newest generations of devices are not only extremely small and portable but they also are extremely affordable. So individuals living with various health conditions that are necessary to measure their oxygen levels can now use the device in the comfort of their home without ever having to worry about not monitoring their health on a continuous basis. The portability also allows them to take the device wherever they desire to go.