4 ms·

TLDR: silent hypoxia - meaning that their blood oxygen level is low. But people don't notice it yet, because CO2 levels are not building up as they would with

TLDR: silent hypoxia - meaning that their blood oxygen level is low. But people don't notice it yet, because CO2 levels are not building up as they would with "normal" breathing problems. I like that they included saturation numbers so that those of us who have oxymeters (e.g. from skydiving) can self-check.

PappaPatat 7y ago
It is really interesting since this is one of these parameters one can check easily and cheap (OXI meters are around 100 euro). And they're still available ATM.
Loughla 7y ago
Any advice on an oxymeter to purchase, or components/features to look for? They all seem to be the same, but vary in price from $20-$300. Reviews on websites are just garbage.
- itronitron 7y ago
  There are ones that clip onto a finger and also ones that you can wear while sleeping. I have one of the wearable ring ones (Wellue/O2Ring/Viatom, etc) and am happy with it. My oxygen levels are good through the night and my resting heart rate is much lower than I expected it would be.
- exhilaration 7y ago
  Search Reddit, lots of doctors and med students discussing which of the cheap ones work. Nearly all are sold out though. I bought this one last night based on Reddit feedback for $35 but it's already sold out: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HSAG8BE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HSAG8BE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b... If you've got $300 to spare, this one is allegedly FDA approved: https://www.masimopersonalhealth.com/products/mightysat-fingertip-pulse-oximeter-with-bluetooth-le-rrp-pvi https://www.masimopersonalhealth.com/products/mightysat-fing...
  - Loughla 7y ago
    Thanks! A place called Medkioskinc.com apparently still has stock of those (at least they did ten minutes ago when I looked), for anyone reading this thread.
- ptha 7y ago
  My S8 has a "Samsung Health" app, that measures Oxygen Saturation under the "Stress" section. It uses the sensor next to camera (also used for Heart Rate). I've no idea how accurate it is though. Some googling and I found a related paper: "Accuracy of Smartphone-Based Pulse Oximetry Compared with Hospital-Grade Pulse Oximetry in Healthy Children" DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone-based pulse oximetry is not inferior to standard pulse oximetry in pediatric patients without hypoxia. [1] However in this case you _are_ trying to test for hypoxia... Another link answering the question "Should smartphone apps be used as oximeters": CONCLUSIONS It is not physically possible to measure SpO2 using current smartphone technology. The two published studies which assessed smartphone oximeter apps (Digidoc and Samsung) raise serious questions about the diagnostic accuracy. The Samsung app has been withdrawn, and the claim that oxygen saturation can be measured indirectly through “stress assessment” is false. [2] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29215972 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29215972 [2] https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/question-should-smartphone-apps-be-used-as-oximeters-answer-no/ https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/question-should-smartphone-app...
- OrangeMango 7y ago
  Many smartwatches have the hardware to measure oxygen saturation, though not all have it enabled. For example, all Apple Watches have hardware for it, and rumors (from before Covid was declared a pandemic) suggested that the next OS version would enable it. Depending on your worry level, you might want to wait to see what happens. Also, this article mentions that people are subconsciously altering their breathing/heart rate when affected. If you already have a smart watch that is tracking your heart rate, you may be able to infer this condition by monitoring heart rate deviations from normal.
  - jl2718 7y ago
    This is super-interesting. Could be extremely powerful along with contact tracing.
- nobrains 7y ago
  My mother has interstatial lung disease. We got her a Zacurate brand pulse oximeter. https://photos.app.goo.gl/MVkCa7GH9NuEbgbL6 https://photos.app.goo.gl/MVkCa7GH9NuEbgbL6 Model 500E which was recently released then. It is rated at 2% +/- but their documentation says that their lab testing gives 1% +/- Does not have memory as I did not need that so you will be able to spot check and not have, for example, overnight readings.
- fxtentacle 7y ago
  I have a OX-HC W512, which is certified for medical use. I wanted to make sure it would be reliable and correct. In addition to having the alarm that you need for sports, it can also track heart rate and log your data. Later, you can then connect it via USB (or Bluetooth if you buy the upgrade) to do interesting analysis such as correlating your pulse and oxygen saturation with the route that you drove (mountain bicycling). It's super nerdy, but a great toy for making your exercise feel like science.
nogabebop23 7y ago
thanks - the amount of a NYT article I can see before their subscribe banner would fit your summary, but unfortunately they don't use the lede to give me the entire story...
- belltaco 7y ago
  I think NYT articles are free during covid if you register and sign in. I don't have a sub and I am able to read NYT articles.
- hazeii 7y ago
  Disable Javascript, hit reload.
  - magduf 7y ago
    I usually have pretty good success hitting F5 to reload and then hitting Esc at just the right time before the ad stuff loads.
Cthulhu_ 7y ago
I read a thing a while ago (maybe on Reddit?) that I wish I hadn't read. It read that the body can detect low oxygen levels - causing you to want to breathe more. But CO (carbon monoxide) attaches to your red blood cells just like O does, meaning as far as your body is concerned, you're just fine in terms of oxygen levels. No "I am suffocating" panic reactions. Get a carbon monoxide detector if you live or stay somewhere with an open flame. Infamously in my country, it's shitty gas powered caravan heaters that are often the problem. Garages with running vehicles as well.
- JumpCrisscross 7y ago
  > the body can detect low oxygen levels No, it can’t. Your body uses a heuristic. It measures CO2 saturation. When that gets high, you get the urge to breathe. This is why you never hyperventilate when diving. Your body will be oblivious right until you black out from oxygen deprivation. (I’ve seen it with a friend. They just “turned off” a few feet below the surface and began sinking. Fortunately, we were able to grab him.) Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin stronger than oxygen. That reduces your blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity. You don’t notice because it does nothing to your blood CO2 levels.

PappaPatat 7y ago

It is really interesting since this is one of these parameters one can check easily and cheap (OXI meters are around 100 euro). And they're still available ATM.

Loughla 7y ago

Any advice on an oxymeter to purchase, or components/features to look for? They all seem to be the same, but vary in price from $20-$300. Reviews on websites are just garbage.

itronitron 7y ago
There are ones that clip onto a finger and also ones that you can wear while sleeping. I have one of the wearable ring ones (Wellue/O2Ring/Viatom, etc) and am happy with it. My oxygen levels are good through the night and my resting heart rate is much lower than I expected it would be.
exhilaration 7y ago
Search Reddit, lots of doctors and med students discussing which of the cheap ones work. Nearly all are sold out though. I bought this one last night based on Reddit feedback for $35 but it's already sold out: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HSAG8BE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HSAG8BE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b... If you've got $300 to spare, this one is allegedly FDA approved: https://www.masimopersonalhealth.com/products/mightysat-fingertip-pulse-oximeter-with-bluetooth-le-rrp-pvi https://www.masimopersonalhealth.com/products/mightysat-fing...
- Loughla 7y ago
  Thanks! A place called Medkioskinc.com apparently still has stock of those (at least they did ten minutes ago when I looked), for anyone reading this thread.
ptha 7y ago
My S8 has a "Samsung Health" app, that measures Oxygen Saturation under the "Stress" section. It uses the sensor next to camera (also used for Heart Rate). I've no idea how accurate it is though. Some googling and I found a related paper: "Accuracy of Smartphone-Based Pulse Oximetry Compared with Hospital-Grade Pulse Oximetry in Healthy Children" DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone-based pulse oximetry is not inferior to standard pulse oximetry in pediatric patients without hypoxia. [1] However in this case you _are_ trying to test for hypoxia... Another link answering the question "Should smartphone apps be used as oximeters": CONCLUSIONS It is not physically possible to measure SpO2 using current smartphone technology. The two published studies which assessed smartphone oximeter apps (Digidoc and Samsung) raise serious questions about the diagnostic accuracy. The Samsung app has been withdrawn, and the claim that oxygen saturation can be measured indirectly through “stress assessment” is false. [2] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29215972 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29215972 [2] https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/question-should-smartphone-apps-be-used-as-oximeters-answer-no/ https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/question-should-smartphone-app...
OrangeMango 7y ago
Many smartwatches have the hardware to measure oxygen saturation, though not all have it enabled. For example, all Apple Watches have hardware for it, and rumors (from before Covid was declared a pandemic) suggested that the next OS version would enable it. Depending on your worry level, you might want to wait to see what happens. Also, this article mentions that people are subconsciously altering their breathing/heart rate when affected. If you already have a smart watch that is tracking your heart rate, you may be able to infer this condition by monitoring heart rate deviations from normal.
- jl2718 7y ago
  This is super-interesting. Could be extremely powerful along with contact tracing.
nobrains 7y ago
My mother has interstatial lung disease. We got her a Zacurate brand pulse oximeter. https://photos.app.goo.gl/MVkCa7GH9NuEbgbL6 https://photos.app.goo.gl/MVkCa7GH9NuEbgbL6 Model 500E which was recently released then. It is rated at 2% +/- but their documentation says that their lab testing gives 1% +/- Does not have memory as I did not need that so you will be able to spot check and not have, for example, overnight readings.
fxtentacle 7y ago
I have a OX-HC W512, which is certified for medical use. I wanted to make sure it would be reliable and correct. In addition to having the alarm that you need for sports, it can also track heart rate and log your data. Later, you can then connect it via USB (or Bluetooth if you buy the upgrade) to do interesting analysis such as correlating your pulse and oxygen saturation with the route that you drove (mountain bicycling). It's super nerdy, but a great toy for making your exercise feel like science.

nogabebop23 7y ago

thanks - the amount of a NYT article I can see before their subscribe banner would fit your summary, but unfortunately they don't use the lede to give me the entire story...

belltaco 7y ago
I think NYT articles are free during covid if you register and sign in. I don't have a sub and I am able to read NYT articles.
hazeii 7y ago
Disable Javascript, hit reload.
- magduf 7y ago
  I usually have pretty good success hitting F5 to reload and then hitting Esc at just the right time before the ad stuff loads.

Cthulhu_ 7y ago

I read a thing a while ago (maybe on Reddit?) that I wish I hadn't read. It read that the body can detect low oxygen levels - causing you to want to breathe more. But CO (carbon monoxide) attaches to your red blood cells just like O does, meaning as far as your body is concerned, you're just fine in terms of oxygen levels. No "I am suffocating" panic reactions. Get a carbon monoxide detector if you live or stay somewhere with an open flame. Infamously in my country, it's shitty gas powered caravan heaters that are often the problem. Garages with running vehicles as well.

JumpCrisscross 7y ago
> the body can detect low oxygen levels No, it can’t. Your body uses a heuristic. It measures CO2 saturation. When that gets high, you get the urge to breathe. This is why you never hyperventilate when diving. Your body will be oblivious right until you black out from oxygen deprivation. (I’ve seen it with a friend. They just “turned off” a few feet below the surface and began sinking. Fortunately, we were able to grab him.) Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin stronger than oxygen. That reduces your blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity. You don’t notice because it does nothing to your blood CO2 levels.