Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Review

Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter  Promotional Picture #EZ50D1

I admit it–I am a fitness nerd.  I like to track various health and fitness metrics. I never considered myself a numbers person until a few years ago when I started focussing on my health and fitness. You may have seen some of my posts about activity tracking and using a heart rate monitor. I also track a number of other health metrics including resting pulse, blood pressure, basal body temperature and others.

Easy@Home offered me the opportunity to try and to review their Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter. I have been interested in a pulse oximeter as it seems a convenient way to test my resting heart rate (easier than manually counting or putting on a chest strap monitor). It also seems like a good way to track lung function.

First I should point out that I am in good health and do not have any known issues that would require an oximeter. Sometimes people with various breathing or lung issues use an oximeter to monitor their ongoing health. I cannot speak specifically to how well it works for this intended purpose other than Easy@home states the Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is FDA-approved.

Promotional Infographic that demonstrates the display

What is an Oximeter?

I feel this explanation from Live Strong is a perfect description:

“A pulse oximeter is a small electronic device that measures the amount of oxygen carried in your blood. The device clips onto the end of your index finger and radiates invisible infrared light and visible red light into the finger. Oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood there absorb different amounts of these lights. By calculating the difference between these two, the pulse oximeter measures how much oxygen is in your blood. The pulse oximeter is commonly used in hospitals to determine how effectively your heart, lungs and circulatory system work together.” (source Live Strong http://www.livestrong.com/article/332501-pulse-oximeter-for-workouts)

And from ehow:

“An ideal pulse oximeter reading should be in the range of 95%-99%. If you have a reading that is significantly below that, look for signs that the person may be having trouble breathing, such as wheezing, trouble catching one’s breath, or periods of apnea (not breathing).” source: http://www.ehow.com/how_5166457_use-finger-pulse-oximeter.html

About Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

Display (From Easy@Home Product Specs:
Once you place your fingertip into the chamber, your results will display within a few seconds. What you will see are numbers signifying your SpO2 levels and pulse rate with a plethysmograph (waveform graph) and a bar graph underneath which display your heart rate in real time. The graphs give visual indication of the irregular, weak heartbeat or incorrect reading. The bright OLED display can rotate in four directions so that you can easily see the results from any view. By pushing the button, the display will rotate and also show or hide the graphs.

Features:

• Universal finger clip for fingers of all sizes
• Auto power off 5 seconds after finger removal
• Last display mode saved after power off
• Adjustable Brightness
• FDA approved
• Multiple display options

Package Includes:

• Carrying case
• Neck/Wrist cord
• Batteries
• User manual

Everything included in the box, Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter. Promotional picture from Easy@Home

My Experience Using Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

I found the Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter easy to set up and use. I had a little trouble figuring out how to insert the batteries, but I sometimes have a learning curve with this type of thing. It is easy to use the oximeter, you simply clip it on the end of your index finger and press the button. It reports pulse and SPO2. The pulse seems accurate and in line with other sources (manually counting, my heart rate monitor, my blood pressure cuff). My pulse does vary and is typically a little higher than usual–but I find different methods of taking pulse vary a little. It is well within normal ranges compared to my blood pressure cuff.

I have no way of assessing the accuracy of the SPO2 measure other than it seems similar to what I have seen when I tried a friend’s oximeter and also an oximeter phone app.  I have no problems breathing, exercise regularly and no health issues. I read that a healthy level will typically be 95 -99 % and mine is usually 97 – 99%. That seems reasonable. Also playing with it, when I hold my breath my Spo2 decreased a little and I saw it increased after deep breathing. I do not know how quickly blood oxygen saturation levels change. I notice my readings can be different when I rest my finger on my red sofa.  But according to Easy@Home, nail polish, lighting and certain colors can effect the readings.

I am testing the Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter #EZ50D1

Where to Purchase Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter:

Affiliate Links to Follow (the Amazon link), if you click and make a purchase Feeling Fit receives a modest commission…

Easy@Home Fingertip Pulse Oximeter is available at Amazon — see their product listing.

Also on Feeling Fit, Bit by Bit:

• A Detailed Review of the Fitbit One
• How to Measure and Calibrate Your Fitbit Stride Settings 
• Get Rewarded For Your Activity: A Round-Up of Five Activity Incentive Programs
•  iMaze Fitness Dual Heart Rate Monitor Strap Review