What do the values on my pulse oximeter mean?

If you use an iHealth pulse oximeter, there are two specific values shown on the display. Below is a simple explanation of what these values mean:

SpO2%: Oxygen saturation

• SpO2 stands for the oxygen saturation in your blood, shown as a percentage. This percentage indicates how much of the hemoglobin in your red blood cells is saturated with oxygen.

PR bpm: Heart rate

• PR bpm stands for Pulse Rate beats per minute, in other words your heart rate. This number shows how many times your heart beats per minute.

How these values are measured

• Oxygen saturation (SpO2):

  • The pulse oximeter uses a sensor that sends light through your skin, usually on a fingertip or earlobe. The sensor measures how much light is absorbed by oxygen-rich blood and displays this as a percentage of the total hemoglobin.

• Heart rate (PR bpm):

  • At the same time, the sensor measures the speed of blood pulses to determine your heart rate. This is shown on the device as the number of beats per minute.