What is a breathing rate monitor?
A breathing rate is the number of breaths taken in one minute. A breathing rate monitor, or “pulse oximeter” as it’s known in the medical community, calculates and displays the number of breaths taken by a person every minute. These devices measure how effectively air is being moved in and out of your lungs by measuring how fast oxygen enters hemoglobin molecules found in red blood cells.
In nature, a person’s breathing rate is regulated in accordance with the demands of physical activity. Although they can be helpful in finding the need for other types of medical assistance, pulse oximeters are not intended to monitor medical conditions. They are not designed to function as a substitute for blood-oxygen saturation measurements or standard pulse oximetry.
How do I know if my breathing rate monitor is working properly?
The unit should be in the “On” position, but not turned on. When you put your hands on your chest, you should feel the sensor. If it doesn’t have a hole or sensor hole in it, it’s defective and will not work. How do I take a blood-oxygen saturation test?
For a blood-oxygen saturation test, you will need:
Some way to record your pulse rate (e.g., stopwatch, pulse oximeter). This information will equal the number of minutes for which oxygen saturation was measured. A red blood cell counter or hemoglobinometer (these are sometimes called lancets). These have sharp tips that can prick a small amount of blood from your fingertip. A complete blood glucose test kit (a test strip to take blood samples). These kits use a red and blue dye to identify the presence of glucose in the person’s blood. A small glass of normal saline solution. Saline solution is a clear, slightly salty liquid used for rinsing out wounds or as a wash to clean wounds before suturing, for example. A plastic syringe (with a luer lock connector) will allow you to push fluid into the syringe without breaking it. A test container into which you can place the used syringe, to catch any blood or saline solution.
Clean your hands with soap and water, then dry them. Use a fresh test strip to measure your blood glucose level. If your blood glucose level is normal (generally considered under 140 mg/dl), then proceed to step 7. If your blood glucose level is above normal range, check the instructions for the test strips you are using. It is possible they will tell you how to correct the situation yourself, or may even tell you to use the test strips within a certain number of hours or days. If they do not provide instructions, contact your physician. If they tell you to use the test strips within a certain number of hours or days, then save the unused test strips until morning. Take the previously measured blood and saliva samples at bedtime (in the morning). Save all used test strips for a later time. With clean hands, measure and record your blood-oxygen saturation level:
Place a drop of blood on the cap of your lancet device and squeeze on it. Move the lancet down to scrape off as much tissue as you can from your fingertip. Squeeze the lancet again, causing it to spray a drop of blood into a hemoglobinometer or counter. After you have squeezed all the drops of blood from your fingertip, use a cotton ball to clean off any excess blood and dry your fingertip. Place it on the pulse oximeter’s sensor (this is safe to do if it has a hole in its screen). Press down firmly on your fingertip for at least 5 seconds so that your pulse rate can be measured.