Which of the following factors can affect oxygen saturation readings?

• A. Time of day
• B. Lung disease, altitude, circulation issues, and nail polish
• C. Dietary habits
• D. Physical activity level

Answer: (B)

Oxygen saturation readings can be impacted by several physiological and environmental factors, and the influence of lung disease, altitude, circulation issues, and nail polish is particularly relevant.

Lung disease can impair the lungs' ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream, leading to decreased oxygen saturation. Conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and asthma can cause significant changes in oxygen levels due to impaired gas exchange.

Altitude affects oxygen saturation because at higher elevations, the atmospheric pressure decreases, leading to less oxygen available in the air. This can result in lower saturation levels as the body struggles to take in adequate oxygen.

Circulation issues, such as peripheral vascular disease or shock, can affect how well blood circulates through the body. If blood flow is compromised, tissues may not receive enough oxygen, and devices that measure oxygen saturation might give falsely low readings due to insufficient blood perfusion to the extremities where pulse oximeters are typically applied.

Nail polish can interfere with the functioning of pulse oximeters, which rely on light absorption through the skin to measure oxygen levels. Certain colors and thicknesses of nail polish can obstruct the sensor's ability to detect adequate blood flow and oxygenation.

In contrast, while time of day, dietary