How to Treat Asthma Based on Oxygen Saturation

Oxygen saturation is a measure of how much oxygen the blood is carrying. It is expressed as a percentage of the maximum oxygen that the blood could carry.

For asthmatic patients with frequent or severe asthma flare-ups, using oxygen saturation along with observation of other asthma symptoms can help guide regular asthma treatment and potentially avoid life-threatening situations.

Oxygen saturation can easily be measured at home using a home pulse oximeter. In all cases, monitoring asthma symptoms and providing asthma treatment should be conducted under your doctor's care.

Things You'll Need

• Pulse oximeter
• Asthma action plan prescribed by your doctor

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Instructions

• 1

  Observe visible and audible asthma symptoms.

  Asthma symptoms typically include wheezing, elevated respiratory rate, cough and reduced peak expiratory flow rate. The severity of individual symptoms, as well as the presence of multiple symptoms, can indicate the severity of the asthma attack. For example, adults with a respiration rate over 40 are typically considered to be in a moderate or severe asthma attack. However, a low respiratory rate combined with audible wheezing may be indicative of a moderate asthma attack.

• 2

  Test oxygen saturation using the pulse oximeter.

  The oxygen saturation level can help indicate the severity of an asthma attack. For example, an oxygen saturation level greater than 95% is typically considered normal. A level between 91% and 95% is considered moderate. And a level below 91% is considered dangerous, indicating that you should seek immediate medical attention.

• 3

  Follow your doctor's prescribed action plan according to observed symptoms.

  Your doctor has likely provided you with an asthma action plan designed to help you both control asthma on a daily basis and also respond to an asthma emergency. The asthma symptoms you observed in steps 1 and 2 provide the guidance for which part of the treatment plan to administer.

• 4

  Wait the prescribed time.

  Many asthma action plans include providing some level of treatment, waiting for a period of time to observe the results, and, if necessary, repeating the treatment or doing a different treatment. The specific waiting time and follow-up treatments will be included in your asthma action plan.

• 5

  Repeat steps 1 through 4 as directed by your doctor or asthma action plan.