RIYADH — Whilst at home, it is critical to ensure that you are monitoring your health and taking steps to ensure an active lifestyle, even in isolation. The good news is that the latest innovations in wearables go beyond recommending workouts to also track blood oxygen which can help reveal the onset of serious health conditions including COVID-19. Blood Oxygen Saturation monitoring or SpO2 monitoring stands for peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, which refers to the percentage of red blood cells that are saturated with oxygen. Since human blood carries oxygen through the combination of red blood cells and oxygen, the higher the oxygen content in the blood, the better the metabolism of the human being. The oxygen saturation is an indication of respiratory function and the overall physical condition of the human body. As per interim guidance from World Health Organization (WHO), in a young adult, severe pneumonia accompanied by high fever or a respiratory anomaly and a SpO2 level of less than or equal to 93% is one of the major symptoms of COVID-19. While in children, symptoms are cough with difficulty in breathing and a SpO2 level of less than or equal to 90%. A normal healthy person should be able to achieve SpO2 levels of 94% to 99%. For patients with mild respiratory diseases, the SpO2 should be 90% or above. Maintaining the precise balance of oxygen-saturated blood is vital to your health while insufficient blood oxygenation may cause fatigue, drowsiness, listlessness, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and decreased memory. Hence, it the management and monitoring of SpO2 levels are crucial. The Honor Band 5, an all-in-one fitness tracker, heart rate monitor and sleep tracker, is the only entry-level fitness tracker that is equipped with SpO2 monitoring. It is one among a suite of other features, including a 0.95” Amoled Full Color touchscreen, multiple sports and fitness modes and up to 14 days of normal usage from a single battery charge. The Band 5 also features latest Huawei TruSeen 3.5 heart rate technology which provides accurate 24-hour real-time continuous heart rate monitoring to help users keep track of their health and fitness. TruSleep technology helps the user track and monitor sleep quality and provides more than 200 customized suggestions to improve sleep quality. SpO2 monitor is not designed to be a medical device, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All data and measurements should be used for personal reference only. If you notice that your SpO2 levels are below the normal levels for a prolonged period, please call your doctor for consultation. — SG