Blood Oxygen Levels

[Purist]

I recently bought an oxymeter and have tried it on several members of the family including myself, I was a bit concerned that my mothers reading varies between 87% and 90%, the rest of us vary between 95% and 98% she does have a residual cough that she had checked with a chest xray and a spirometry and was normal but otherwise in good health, should I be concerned?

[Sqad]

No.
That figure of 87% is a little on the low side , but if the chest X-ry is normal and her blood haemoglobin is normal, then 87% is no big deal.

[Purist]

Thank you sqad, I was a bit worried about it.

[rowanwitch]

Try looking at her not the numbers. If she isn't breathless when doing her day to day stuff her lips aren't going a blue colour check her hands. If they are pale and cold get her to wear warm gloves for a while and exercise her hands then try again. Oximetry is inaccurate in old people with poor circulaton.

[Sqad]

rowan.

"chest xray and a spirometry and was normal but otherwise in good health,"

That seems to be a helpful comment and probably says it all.