Question about Pulse Oximetry

[DustinRN]

I have been taking pulse oximetries for the past 2 years now. I have taken O2 sats on patients that are 80 years old in the 95-99 range. For the last two years I have been taking mine, and it has been in the 94-96 range. I don't smoke. I'm overweight (as you know nursing school does this :chuckle ) but can that play a major role in my sats being low? I'm 6'1'' 260lbs. A lot of that weight is still muscle from where I worked out before school started. I've been broke eversince :rotfl: Anyways, I just wanted to know if there are any substantial reasons for my sats constantly remaining in the 94-96 range. It gets me upset to see these 90yo pt's with sats in the 95-99 range and me below that. Oh, I'm also 24yo if that helps.

[Tenesma]

ignore the post about the concern regarding starting CPAP at a young age... there is nothing wrong with starting CPAP at any age... I have prescribed it for 14 year olds... of course the ideal management is either surgical reduction of airway obstruction (if that is the cause) or weight loss (most common issue)... my major concern in patients that are in your boat is the remodeling of pulmonary and right heart vasculature, this over time can lead to pulmonary hypertension and eventually right heart failure (we are talking many, many years from now)