o2 sat

[pete331]

what shoud i do when my sat is reading 82% from a pulse oximeter?

[bsmsl]

More specifically, call for an ambulance or have someone else do it.  That is WAY too low to do anything else.  

Obviously there is a reason why you have the pulse oximeter and you know what that is.  You also know that the level is low.  Time to act and not watch.  I assume that you have experiemented with the device and have an idea of what your normal is on it.  

Get taken care of.

[caregiver222]

Is that a philosophical question?

The thing to do is to saddle up the pony and trot to the nearest M.D. and get an evaluation. The key question is "why"?

Do you have chronic obstructive puomonary disease, for example. Or a blood disorder. You might have pneumonia.

Home meters are notoriously innacurate.

You won't necessarily die with that P02, but you will be weak, disorientated, and be more susceptable to cardiac irregularites.

Many physicians prescribe supplementary oxygen for someone with those readings.

You have not provided enough information to give an answer.