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All-day SpO2 readings needed just for altitude acclimatization?

Zodios
over 2 years ago

Hi.

Do all-day SpO2 readings needed just for altitude acclimatization?

Or is it used for other features?

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    It’s not a medical device. It’s primary use is for altitude acclimatisation. Outside of that it has little to no purpose. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Quite useful for apnea training.

    As @philipshamrook wrote, it is not a medical device, so you should not completely rely on it, and you should first check whether it works well on you. Personally, I am one of the lucky users for whom it works flawlessly, and as accurately as my fingertip oximeter. However, there are plenty of others complaining about low readings or no reading at all.

    So if it works reasonably well for you, it can be also useful for an early detection of hypoxemia, or for its monitoring. There are several possible causes of hypoxemia - from an accident, over heart stroke, or a heart disease (i.e. right-to-left shunting), respiratory obstruction, lung diseases, blood disease, sleep disorders (snoring, sleep apnoe) to neurological or psychical troubles.

    Monitoring the SpO2 may be quite useful for people suffering for example asthma, ARDS, COPD, and many other more or less common conditions. When I got Covid 19, I turned the all-day monitoring on. Yes it consumed a bit more power, but since I could not go out running or cycling, using the battery with GPS, it was still less drain than usually. And the charger was near anyway Slight smile

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to trux
    trux said:
    it can be also useful for an early diagnosis of hypoxemia

    I'm going to be pedantic here and say it cannot be used for diagnosis of any medical condition, only the possible presence. If there is any suspicion that abberant readings might indicate a medical condition a medical professional should be consulted for a diagnosis.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Dr Phil
    Dr Phil said:
    I'm going to be pedantic here and say it cannot be used for diagnosis of any medical condition

    Yes, a bit pedantic and playing with words. I think everyone, including you, understood what I meant. Certainly, for the final diagnosis you'll need a medical professional, but if you detect sudden change in your SpO2 patterns, it may bring you to consulting the physician who will do the diagnosis. So the watch will still be useful in getting this final diagnosis - that's exactly what I meant and what I wrote.  However, to make you happier, I'll edit the post and change the word diagnosis to detection.