PETALING JAYA: With the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country, it’s no surprise that many are investing in a pulse oximeter to monitor their body’s oxygen levels.

       This medical device measures blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), ie, the percentage of oxygen contained within our red blood cells, which are the main transporter of oxygen around our body.

       With Covid-19 primarily attacking the lungs, one worry is that a patient might suffer from a condition known as happy hypoxia.

       According to consultant cardiologist Dr Wong Teck Wee, happy hypoxia occurs when a person has low blood oxygen saturation, but does not exhibit any symptoms.

       “This often occurs in younger people because their physiological reserves are high, so their tolerance for low oxygen is high.

       “So they do not have any symptoms, even though their oxygen level is low,” he said during an online talk on Health Monitoring Begins From Home held recently.

       “This is dangerous because these young people will go on being unaware of this low oxygen level until one point when the body cannot take it any more.

       “This will not give us medical professionals time to save this person if they collapse at home.”

       Usually, a person who is low on oxygen will experience symptoms like breathlessness, headache, fatigue, and restlessness or confusion, among others.

       In a tweet on June 18, the Health Ministry noted that happy hypoxia, also known as silent hypoxia, was one of the factors in the increased number of severe Covid-19 cases, especially among younger patients.

       Dr Wong noted that before the Covid-19 pandemic, happy hypoxia primarily occurred in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

       The only way to detect happy hypoxia is by measuring blood oxygen saturation via a pulse oximeter. Normal blood oxygen saturation is 95% and above.

       Other conditions that can lower this percentage include anaemia, lung conditions like pneumonia, and cardiovascular conditions like heart failure.

       Dr Wong cautioned that the public should only buy pulse oximeters that are registered with the Medical Device Authority in order to ensure their quality.

       The media briefing was organised by Zuellig Pharma and Medisana, which produces and distributes pulse oximeters, among other medical devices.