Open the Health app on your iPhone. Tap Browse, tap Respiratory, then tap Blood Oxygen.
Blood Oxygen App is free to download and use. If you upgrade to Blood Oxygen App Premium, we offer weekly, monthly & annual auto-renewing subscriptions. If you need to connect your family and sync between devices, we offer a Family Sync plan.
In a proof-of-principle study, University of Washington and University of California San Diego researchers have shown that smartphones are capable of detecting blood oxygen saturation levels down to 70%.
Can I check my blood oxygen (SP02) levels at home? Yes! Using a Finger Pulse Oximeter, which is a small device that is attached to your finger to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood travelling round your body. The Oximeter takes an SpO2 reading – an estimation of the amount of oxygen in your blood.
Tracking respiratory rate :
You are supposed to count the number of breaths you are taking in a minute. To do this, place your hand on your chest and count the number of times you breathe. If your respiratory rate is more than 30, you might have a low oxygen level.
There are two main ways to measure or test blood oxygen levels: through a blood draw test and through pulse oximetry (using an oximeter). A blood draw test provides much more information about your oxygen levels than an oximeter does.
You might be given a pulse oximeter by your general practice, hospital or other care provider. You can also purchase one from a pharmacy over the phone or online, and have it delivered to your home. Some smartphones/smartwatches have a pulse oximeter function. These are not accurate and should not be used.
Oxygen levels may be low if someone feels short of breath, is breathing faster than usual, or feels too sick to do their usual daily activities, even if a pulse oximeter says their oxygen levels are normal. Call a doctor or another health care provider right away if you have these symptoms.
Warning signs of a low oxygen level include trouble breathing, confusion, difficulty waking up, and bluish lips or face. Adults may have chest pain that doesn't go away. Children may flare their nostrils, grunt while breathing, or be unable to drink or eat. Some COVID-19 patients may show no symptoms at all.
The mean spO2 measured with the conventional pulse oximeters was 94.4%. The mean spO2 measured with the Apple Watch was 95.9%. The Pearson correlation coefficient between watch and conventional oximeter measurements was 0.81, with limits of agreement of -2.7% and +4.1%.
Both Samsung S9 and S10 contain the same integrated pulse oximeter, thus over 100 million smartphones in current global circulation could be used to obtain clinically accurate spot SpO2 measurements to support at home assessment of COVID-19 patients.
Below 88% becomes dangerous, and when it dips to 84% or below, it's time to go to the hospital. Around 80% and lower is dangerous for your vital organs, so you should be treated right away.
While it may sound like the name of a sci-fi character, SpO2 actually refers to the oxygen levels in your blood. Fitbit tracks your nightly average SpO2 levels so you can see trends that may be indications of important changes in your fitness and wellness.
Oxygen toxicity is lung damage that happens from breathing in too much extra (supplemental) oxygen. It's also called oxygen poisoning. It can cause coughing and trouble breathing. In severe cases it can even cause death.
Shortness of breath does not equal saturation (SaO2%)
In other words, your level of dyspnea, or air hunger, does not always correlate with your oxygen saturation. This means that you can be short of breath, even extremely short of breath, even in the presence of normal oxygen saturation.
A person may have dyspnea even though the actual levels of oxygen are within a normal range. It is important to understand that people do not suffocate or die from dyspnea. But tell your health care team right away if you have any of these symptoms or if they get worse.
Your blood oxygen level is measured as a percentage—95 to 100 percent is considered normal. “If oxygen levels are below 88 percent, that is a cause for concern,” said Christian Bime, MD, a critical care medicine specialist with a focus in pulmonology at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson.
Stress can affect all systems of the body — even leading to lower oxygen levels in the blood and body. If you sometimes feel short of breath when you're stressed or anxious, you are not alone. This is a common symptom of anxiety.
Lack of oxygen in the brain results in a sudden and rapid increase in blood pressure inside the head, this is the bodies way of counteracting the hypoxia. This increase in pressure leads to the pounding/throbbing headache. Every beat of the heart feels like a shock wave hammering through the skull.
Apple Watch — Series 6 or later, excluding Apple Watch SE1 — is capable of measuring oxygen saturation of arterial hemoglobin (SpO2) for fitness and wellness applications. The Apple Watch optical system uses a combination of light emitters and light sensors to take the blood oxygen measurement.
90% or less This oxygen level is very concerning and may indicate a severe medical problem. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. You may need an urgent X-ray or heart test. 91% to 94% This oxygen level is concerning and may indicate a medical problem.
A normal resting heart rate for an adult can range between 60 and 100 beats a minute. A lower resting heart rate usually means your heart is working more efficiently and is more fit. For example, an athlete might have a resting heart rate of around 40 beats a minute, but a slow pulse could also be a sign of problems.