The Best Pulse Oximeter for Tracking Coronavirus Symptoms
This tiny, drugstore gadget is a must-have for monitoring COVID-19 symptoms.
With COVID-19 on everyone’s minds, all the time, it’s safe to say we’re doing everything we can to prevent catching the virus. We’re taking vitamins to boost our immunity, cleaning our face masks, and even making our own hand sanitizer. Those things are great! Keep up the good work. But if you do feel sick, there are a few things worth having on-hand, like a reliable thermometer, fever medication, and a pulse oximeter. But before we get to the best pulse oximeters, let’s take a look at what this tiny device actually does.
How does a pulse oximeter work?
The handheld device painlessly clips to your fingertip, and provides a digital reading of your blood’s oxygen levels. “Oximeters measure how efficient the lungs are at getting the blood filled with oxygen,” Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health at Northwell Health, told the New York Post. They are considered especially vital for those over 60 and people with underlying health conditions, both of which are considered “high risk” categories for coronavirus. The reading can help your doctor monitor your symptoms from home.
Celebrities like CNN anchor Chris Cuomo and Bravo’s Andy Cohen, both of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, praised their pulse oximeters as a vital tool for monitoring their coronavirus symptoms.
Cohen said the oximeter helped his doctor decide if and when he should go to the hospital. “My doctor told me what the reading would be in case it would be a cause for alarm” he said. On his show, Cuomo Prime Time, Chris Cuomo praised the device to Dr. Sanjay Gupta: “I’ll tell you what, this is a great gift to people who are fighting COVID.”
Ankovo pulse oximeter
best-reviewed pulse oximeter on Amazon
This fingertip oximeter can accurately determine your SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation levels), pulse rate and pulse strength. It works quickly (in five seconds!), and displays your results on a bright, LED display making it impossible to miss.
One Amazon reviewer wrote: “I bought this pulse oximeter fingertip for my parents to support them in monitoring their health and discovering possible deterioration… It’s very easy to use and has excellent visual effects.The device not only reads pulse rate, but also blood oxygen saturation.”
