How to detect "silent hypoxemia" in the elderly at home

This is the 4205th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Hypoxemia refers to insufficient oxygen in the blood, which is mainly manifested as a decrease in blood oxygen partial pressure and blood oxygen saturation. Hypoxemia is one of the common critical diseases in the respiratory department.

Generally, the normal value of finger pulse oxygen (using a pulse oximeter to detect human blood oxygen to check whether there is hypoxia) is generally between 95% and 100%. If it is lower than 92%, it is worth being vigilant. Usually, when the human body is hypoxic, it will send out corresponding signals, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, irritability, etc., and the elderly may look fine, but when the finger pulse oxygen is measured, it is lower than 90%. This condition is actually "silent hypoxemia". At this moment, the blood oxygen content has dropped but no "warning" is sent at the same time. If this hypoxia is not discovered for a long time, it will cause irreparable damage to important organs of the body and even threaten life. If we don't have a finger pulse oximeter, we can also perform endurance tests, such as mild physical activities or walking 100-200 meters. Climbing two floors will make you sweat or feel breathless. Be vigilant and don't simply think that it can be explained by physical exhaustion caused by staying at home for a long time.

To deal with "silent hypoxemia", we should: 1. timely monitoring to detect hypoxemia; 2. reasonable oxygen treatment; 3. timely medical treatment and active diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

How to measure pulse oxygen more accurately:

1. The principle of finger pulse oximetry detection is to measure the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin through infrared rays through the fingernail. Therefore, the red bright spot should be aligned with the fingernail. Do not clamp it upside down or too loosely, as this will affect the value.

2. Painted nails or onychomycosis will affect the finger pulse oxygen value.

3. Keep your fingertips warm, otherwise it will affect the value.

Author: Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Shen Jun, deputy chief nurse of the Department of Geriatric Cardiology