Blood oxygen level

The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
It read 96%. Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. I'm
guessing that the level would have been less back then. Anyone have
any input on this?
Sue
(apologies to FIM)

Sue <sebrady@thegrid.net> penned.wrote.stated:
: The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
: He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
: It read 96%. Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
: I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. I'm
: guessing that the level would have been less back then. Anyone have
: any input on this?
: Sue
: (apologies to FIM)

What is the test?
Your red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to all of your
internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass through the lungs,
95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with oxygen to carry. If you have lung
disease or other types of medical conditions, fewer of your red blood cells may be
carrying their usual load of oxygen, and your oxygen saturation might be lower than 95%.
Your blood oxygen level can be measured in two ways.



What happens when the test is performed?
An estimate of your oxygen saturation can be made easily and painlessly with a clip that
fits on your finger. This clip shines a light through one side of your finger; a detector
measures the light that comes through the other side. This machine can make a good guess
about your oxygen saturation because blood cells that are saturated with oxygen absorb
and reflect light differently than those that are not. Blood cells are a bright red when
they are loaded with oxygen, and they change to a bluish color when they are no longer
carrying a full load. This machine cannot give a perfect measurement of your oxygen
saturation; it can give only a rough estimate, and its measurement can be affected by
things as simple as red nail polish on your finger.

A better test for measuring your oxygen saturation is an arterial blood gas test. For
this test, a small sample of blood must be drawn directly out of an artery. Most routine
blood tests use blood that is drawn out of a vein, so this test is a little different.
The artery that is sampled most often is the radial artery in your wrist, the one you can
feel when you take your pulse. To draw blood from this artery, your doctor or a
technician feels your pulse before inserting the needle. Some patients find that it hurts
a little more to have blood taken from an artery instead of a vein, but the procedure
takes only a few seconds. Your arterial blood can be directly tested for its oxygen
level, and other tests (such as the level of carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood) can
be done as well.

How long is it before the result of the test is known?
The results of the arterial blood gas test are processed very quickly and are available
within 15 minutes in most laboratories. The fingerclip estimate of oxygen is available
immediately
:

On Apr 1, 9:09*pm, Jsteam <fftN...@main.com> wrote:
> Sue <sebr...@thegrid.net> penned.wrote.stated:
> : The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
> : He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
> : It read 96%. *Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
> : I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. *I'm
> : guessing that the level would have been less back then. *Anyone have
> : any input on this?
> : Sue
> : (apologies to FIM)
>
> What is the test?
> Your red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries toall of your
> internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass through the lungs,
> 95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with oxygen to carry. If you have lung
> disease or other types of medical conditions, fewer of your red blood cells may be
> carrying their usual load of oxygen, and your oxygen saturation might be lower than 95%.
> Your blood oxygen level can be measured in two ways.
>
> What happens when the test is performed?
> An estimate of your oxygen saturation can be made easily and painlessly with a clip that
> fits on your finger. This clip shines a light through one side of your finger; a detector
> measures the light that comes through the other side. This machine can make a good guess
> about your oxygen saturation because blood cells that are saturated with oxygen absorb
> and reflect light differently than those that are not. Blood cells are a bright red when
> they are loaded with oxygen, and they change to a bluish color when they are no longer
> carrying a full load. This machine cannot give a perfect measurement of your oxygen
> saturation; it can give only a rough estimate, and its measurement can be affected by
> things as simple as red nail polish on your finger.
>
> A better test for measuring your oxygen saturation is an arterial blood gas test. For
> this test, a small sample of blood must be drawn directly out of an artery.. Most routine
> blood tests use blood that is drawn out of a vein, so this test is a little different.
> The artery that is sampled most often is the radial artery in your wrist, the one you can
> feel when you take your pulse. To draw blood from this artery, your doctoror a
> technician feels your pulse before inserting the needle. Some patients find that it hurts
> a little more to have blood taken from an artery instead of a vein, but the procedure
> takes only a few seconds. Your arterial blood can be directly tested for its oxygen
> level, and other tests (such as the level of carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood) can
> be done as well.
>
> How long is it before the result of the test is known?
> The results of the arterial blood gas test are processed very quickly and are available
> within 15 minutes in most laboratories. The fingerclip estimate of oxygen is available
> immediately
> : *

Wow. How convenient. Thanks for the education.

Sue, I am thrilled to read your oxygen level was at 96%. I do not
know what mine was either when I sucked that poison but I am confident
I would not wanted it as a grade in school. I actually could see the
pink come back into my face as I got more oxygen in my system.
Breathing sure is nifty, isn't it?

FlatironMike
breathe in
breathe out
One year, one month, three weeks, one day, 2 hours, 53 minutes and 13
seconds. 8322 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,496.47. Life saved: 4
weeks, 21 hours, 30 minutes.

On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 02:09:19 +0000 (UTC), Jsteam <fftNIEH@main.com>
wrote:

>A better test for measuring your oxygen saturation is an arterial blood gas test. For
>this test, a small sample of blood must be drawn directly out of an artery. Most routine
>blood tests use blood that is drawn out of a vein, so this test is a little different.

I'll say the fuck it is.
Arteries are the "High Pressure lines" with walls practically made of
Chrome Moly steel, and it takes a hammer to get the needle through
them.

Thanks, John! Sure wish I knew what it was when I smoked.
Sue

On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 02:09:19 +0000 (UTC), Jsteam <fftNIEH@main.com>
wrote:

>Sue <sebrady@thegrid.net> penned.wrote.stated:
>: The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
>: He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
>: It read 96%. Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
>: I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. I'm
>: guessing that the level would have been less back then. Anyone have
>: any input on this?
>: Sue
>: (apologies to FIM)
>
>What is the test?
>Your red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to all of your
>internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass through the lungs,
>95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with oxygen to carry. If you have lung
>disease or other types of medical conditions, fewer of your red blood cells may be
>carrying their usual load of oxygen, and your oxygen saturation might be lower than 95%.
>Your blood oxygen level can be measured in two ways.
>
>
>
>What happens when the test is performed?
>An estimate of your oxygen saturation can be made easily and painlessly with a clip that
>fits on your finger. This clip shines a light through one side of your finger; a detector
>measures the light that comes through the other side. This machine can make a good guess
>about your oxygen saturation because blood cells that are saturated with oxygen absorb
>and reflect light differently than those that are not. Blood cells are a bright red when
>they are loaded with oxygen, and they change to a bluish color when they are no longer
>carrying a full load. This machine cannot give a perfect measurement of your oxygen
>saturation; it can give only a rough estimate, and its measurement can be affected by
>things as simple as red nail polish on your finger.
>
>A better test for measuring your oxygen saturation is an arterial blood gas test. For
>this test, a small sample of blood must be drawn directly out of an artery. Most routine
>blood tests use blood that is drawn out of a vein, so this test is a little different.
>The artery that is sampled most often is the radial artery in your wrist, the one you can
>feel when you take your pulse. To draw blood from this artery, your doctor or a
>technician feels your pulse before inserting the needle. Some patients find that it hurts
>a little more to have blood taken from an artery instead of a vein, but the procedure
>takes only a few seconds. Your arterial blood can be directly tested for its oxygen
>level, and other tests (such as the level of carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood) can
>be done as well.
>
>How long is it before the result of the test is known?
>The results of the arterial blood gas test are processed very quickly and are available
>within 15 minutes in most laboratories. The fingerclip estimate of oxygen is available
>immediately
>:

On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 22:24:14 -0700 (PDT), FlatIronMike
<FlatironMikeNYC@gmail.com> wrote:

>Sue, I am thrilled to read your oxygen level was at 96%. I do not
>know what mine was either when I sucked that poison but I am confident
>I would not wanted it as a grade in school. I actually could see the
>pink come back into my face as I got more oxygen in my system.
>Breathing sure is nifty, isn't it?

Sure is. Breathing without coughing. Breathing without wheezing.
Breathing without gurgling. Deep breaths. Clean. )
Sue

>
>FlatironMike
>breathe in
>breathe out
>One year, one month, three weeks, one day, 2 hours, 53 minutes and 13
>seconds. 8322 cigarettes not smoked, saving $2,496.47. Life saved: 4
>weeks, 21 hours, 30 minutes.

I was always afrid of knowing my stats when I smoked since I knew they would be bad.

Sue <sebrady@thegrid.net> penned.wrote.stated:
: Thanks, John! Sure wish I knew what it was when I smoked.
: Sue

: On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 02:09:19 +0000 (UTC), Jsteam <fftNIEH@main.com>
: wrote:

:>Sue <sebrady@thegrid.net> penned.wrote.stated:
:>: The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
:>: He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
:>: It read 96%. Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
:>: I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. I'm
:>: guessing that the level would have been less back then. Anyone have
:>: any input on this?
:>: Sue
:>: (apologies to FIM)
:>
:>What is the test?
:>Your red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to all of your
:>internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass through the lungs,
:>95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with oxygen to carry. If you have lung
:>disease or other types of medical conditions, fewer of your red blood cells may be
:>carrying their usual load of oxygen, and your oxygen saturation might be lower than 95%.
:>Your blood oxygen level can be measured in two ways.
:>
:>
:>
:>What happens when the test is performed?
:>An estimate of your oxygen saturation can be made easily and painlessly with a clip that
:>fits on your finger. This clip shines a light through one side of your finger; a detector
:>measures the light that comes through the other side. This machine can make a good guess
:>about your oxygen saturation because blood cells that are saturated with oxygen absorb
:>and reflect light differently than those that are not. Blood cells are a bright red when
:>they are loaded with oxygen, and they change to a bluish color when they are no longer
:>carrying a full load. This machine cannot give a perfect measurement of your oxygen
:>saturation; it can give only a rough estimate, and its measurement can be affected by
:>things as simple as red nail polish on your finger.
:>
:>A better test for measuring your oxygen saturation is an arterial blood gas test. For
:>this test, a small sample of blood must be drawn directly out of an artery. Most routine
:>blood tests use blood that is drawn out of a vein, so this test is a little different.
:>The artery that is sampled most often is the radial artery in your wrist, the one you can
:>feel when you take your pulse. To draw blood from this artery, your doctor or a
:>technician feels your pulse before inserting the needle. Some patients find that it hurts
:>a little more to have blood taken from an artery instead of a vein, but the procedure
:>takes only a few seconds. Your arterial blood can be directly tested for its oxygen
:>level, and other tests (such as the level of carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood) can
:>be done as well.
:>
:>How long is it before the result of the test is known?
:>The results of the arterial blood gas test are processed very quickly and are available
:>within 15 minutes in most laboratories. The fingerclip estimate of oxygen is available
:>immediately
:>:

You know, I heard that also.

On Wed, 2 Apr 2008, Jsteam wrote:

> Sue <sebrady@thegrid.net> penned.wrote.stated:
> : The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
> : He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
> : It read 96%. Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
> : I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. I'm
> : guessing that the level would have been less back then. Anyone have
> : any input on this?
> : Sue
> : (apologies to FIM)
>
> What is the test?
> Your red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to all of your
> internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass through the lungs,
> 95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with oxygen to carry. If you have lung
> disease or other types of medical conditions, fewer of your red blood cells may be
> carrying their usual load of oxygen, and your oxygen saturation might be lower than 95%.
> Your blood oxygen level can be measured in two ways.
>
>
>
> What happens when the test is performed?
> An estimate of your oxygen saturation can be made easily and painlessly with a clip that
> fits on your finger. This clip shines a light through one side of your finger; a detector
> measures the light that comes through the other side. This machine can make a good guess
> about your oxygen saturation because blood cells that are saturated with oxygen absorb
> and reflect light differently than those that are not. Blood cells are a bright red when
> they are loaded with oxygen, and they change to a bluish color when they are no longer
> carrying a full load. This machine cannot give a perfect measurement of your oxygen
> saturation; it can give only a rough estimate, and its measurement can be affected by
> things as simple as red nail polish on your finger.
>
> A better test for measuring your oxygen saturation is an arterial blood gas test. For
> this test, a small sample of blood must be drawn directly out of an artery. Most routine
> blood tests use blood that is drawn out of a vein, so this test is a little different.
> The artery that is sampled most often is the radial artery in your wrist, the one you can
> feel when you take your pulse. To draw blood from this artery, your doctor or a
> technician feels your pulse before inserting the needle. Some patients find that it hurts
> a little more to have blood taken from an artery instead of a vein, but the procedure
> takes only a few seconds. Your arterial blood can be directly tested for its oxygen
> level, and other tests (such as the level of carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood) can
> be done as well.
>
> How long is it before the result of the test is known?
> The results of the arterial blood gas test are processed very quickly and are available
> within 15 minutes in most laboratories. The fingerclip estimate of oxygen is available
> immediately
> :
>

You know you have a good point. It might depend on how deep you inhaled
when you smoked.

On Tue, 1 Apr 2008, Sue wrote:

> The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
> He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
> It read 96%. Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
> I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. I'm
> guessing that the level would have been less back then. Anyone have
> any input on this?
> Sue
> (apologies to FIM)
>
>

How many years did you smoke Sue? I think you told me once, but I forgot.

On Wed, 2 Apr 2008, Sue wrote:

> Thanks, John! Sure wish I knew what it was when I smoked.
> Sue
>
> On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 02:09:19 +0000 (UTC), Jsteam <fftNIEH@main.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Sue <sebrady@thegrid.net> penned.wrote.stated:
>> : The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
>> : He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
>> : It read 96%. Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
>> : I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. I'm
>> : guessing that the level would have been less back then. Anyone have
>> : any input on this?
>> : Sue
>> : (apologies to FIM)
>>
>> What is the test?
>> Your red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to all of your
>> internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass through the lungs,
>> 95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with oxygen to carry. If you have lung
>> disease or other types of medical conditions, fewer of your red blood cells may be
>> carrying their usual load of oxygen, and your oxygen saturation might be lower than 95%.
>> Your blood oxygen level can be measured in two ways.
>>
>>
>>
>> What happens when the test is performed?
>> An estimate of your oxygen saturation can be made easily and painlessly with a clip that
>> fits on your finger. This clip shines a light through one side of your finger; a detector
>> measures the light that comes through the other side. This machine can make a good guess
>> about your oxygen saturation because blood cells that are saturated with oxygen absorb
>> and reflect light differently than those that are not. Blood cells are a bright red when
>> they are loaded with oxygen, and they change to a bluish color when they are no longer
>> carrying a full load. This machine cannot give a perfect measurement of your oxygen
>> saturation; it can give only a rough estimate, and its measurement can be affected by
>> things as simple as red nail polish on your finger.
>>
>> A better test for measuring your oxygen saturation is an arterial blood gas test. For
>> this test, a small sample of blood must be drawn directly out of an artery. Most routine
>> blood tests use blood that is drawn out of a vein, so this test is a little different.
>> The artery that is sampled most often is the radial artery in your wrist, the one you can
>> feel when you take your pulse. To draw blood from this artery, your doctor or a
>> technician feels your pulse before inserting the needle. Some patients find that it hurts
>> a little more to have blood taken from an artery instead of a vein, but the procedure
>> takes only a few seconds. Your arterial blood can be directly tested for its oxygen
>> level, and other tests (such as the level of carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood) can
>> be done as well.
>>
>> How long is it before the result of the test is known?
>> The results of the arterial blood gas test are processed very quickly and are available
>> within 15 minutes in most laboratories. The fingerclip estimate of oxygen is available
>> immediately
>> :
>

Dana, I quit so many times for significant lengths of time that it's
hard to tell. I'd guess that I smoked for a total of about 30 years.
Sue


On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:05:27 -0400, Dana <dana@panix.com> wrote:

>How many years did you smoke Sue? I think you told me once, but I forgot.
>
>On Wed, 2 Apr 2008, Sue wrote:
>
>> Thanks, John! Sure wish I knew what it was when I smoked.
>> Sue
>>
>> On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 02:09:19 +0000 (UTC), Jsteam <fftNIEH@main.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Sue <sebrady@thegrid.net> penned.wrote.stated:
>>> : The other day I had a cardiologist appt (just a follow up thingy).
>>> : He'd never done an oxygen test - clipped a little thing on my finger.
>>> : It read 96%. Now, he seemed pleased and so I'm guessing that's good.
>>> : I wish I'd had that test when I was in full smoking mode. I'm
>>> : guessing that the level would have been less back then. Anyone have
>>> : any input on this?
>>> : Sue
>>> : (apologies to FIM)
>>>
>>> What is the test?
>>> Your red blood cells must carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to all of your
>>> internal organs to keep you alive. Normally, when red blood cells pass through the lungs,
>>> 95%-100% of them are loaded, or "saturated," with oxygen to carry. If you have lung
>>> disease or other types of medical conditions, fewer of your red blood cells may be
>>> carrying their usual load of oxygen, and your oxygen saturation might be lower than 95%.
>>> Your blood oxygen level can be measured in two ways.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What happens when the test is performed?
>>> An estimate of your oxygen saturation can be made easily and painlessly with a clip that
>>> fits on your finger. This clip shines a light through one side of your finger; a detector
>>> measures the light that comes through the other side. This machine can make a good guess
>>> about your oxygen saturation because blood cells that are saturated with oxygen absorb
>>> and reflect light differently than those that are not. Blood cells are a bright red when
>>> they are loaded with oxygen, and they change to a bluish color when they are no longer
>>> carrying a full load. This machine cannot give a perfect measurement of your oxygen
>>> saturation; it can give only a rough estimate, and its measurement can be affected by
>>> things as simple as red nail polish on your finger.
>>>
>>> A better test for measuring your oxygen saturation is an arterial blood gas test. For
>>> this test, a small sample of blood must be drawn directly out of an artery. Most routine
>>> blood tests use blood that is drawn out of a vein, so this test is a little different.
>>> The artery that is sampled most often is the radial artery in your wrist, the one you can
>>> feel when you take your pulse. To draw blood from this artery, your doctor or a
>>> technician feels your pulse before inserting the needle. Some patients find that it hurts
>>> a little more to have blood taken from an artery instead of a vein, but the procedure
>>> takes only a few seconds. Your arterial blood can be directly tested for its oxygen
>>> level, and other tests (such as the level of carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood) can
>>> be done as well.
>>>
>>> How long is it before the result of the test is known?
>>> The results of the arterial blood gas test are processed very quickly and are available
>>> within 15 minutes in most laboratories. The fingerclip estimate of oxygen is available
>>> immediately
>>> :
>>

On Apr 2, 9:52*am, Sue <sebr...@thegrid.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 22:24:14 -0700 (PDT), FlatIronMike
>
> <FlatironMike...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Sue, I am thrilled to read your oxygen level was at 96%. *I do not
> >know what mine was either when I sucked that poison but I am confident
> >I would not wanted it as a grade in school. *I actually could see the
> >pink come back into my face as I got more oxygen in my system.
> >Breathing sure is nifty, isn't it?
>
> Sure is. *Breathing without coughing. *Breathing without wheezing.
> Breathing without gurgling. *Deep breaths. *Clean. *)
> Sue

Ugh ... gurgling.

The Mrs sees a pulminary specialist twice a year. Sitting in the
waiting room *really* makes one appreciate quitting smoking. Jeez --
when someone coughs all you can hear is phlegm -- like buckets of it
-- in their airways.

One gentleman stood up from his chair at the end of the room and
walked to the receptionists desk and was completely winded -- I don't
think he ever caught his breath from it.

Deep clean breaths are good.

Cheers,
Marvin