Spirometers are used record the amount of air that is breathed in and out over a specified amount of time. This medical device measures the respiration flow rate of air in the lungs. It can be used to test the condition of the lungs and to determine if a patient has a disease such as bronchitis, emphysema, or asthma. It can also be used to test lung function when contaminants are present, the effect of medications, disease progression, as well as shortness of breath.
The patient is fitted with nose clips and breathes through a mouthpiece that is tight fitting for optimal results. Forced and fast breathing during testing can cause a feeling of being lightheaded or can cause a temporary shortness of breath. Age, ethnicity, race, and sex all determine normal range results. When test scores drop below 80 percent, the test is deemed to be abnormal, but ranges can vary with different laboratories.
If the test is abnormal this can be an indication of a lung disease or a chest disease. Chronic bronchitis, infections, asthma, and emphysema can cause the lungs to have too much air in them and take a longer to empty. These conditions are known as obstructive disorders of the lungs and can result in scarring and a limited capacity causing problems with the transfer of oxygen into the bloodstream and limiting the amount of air in the lungs. Being very overweight, having lung cancer, fibrosis of the lungs, or scleroderma and sarcoidosis can be contributing factors.
The risk is minimal in taking this test for most patients. For those people who have certain lung diseases there is an occasional risk of a lung collapsing. Those who have heart disease or a recent heart attack should avoid taking this test.
Being cooperative during testing is very important to receive the most accurate results. The seal around the mouthpiece must be tight or the device will product results that are hard to understand. Smoking or eating a heavy meal should be avoided for 4 to 6 hours before testing. People using bronchodilators or inhaler medications will receive special instruction.
Another way to measure lung volume is by breathing helium or nitrogen gas through a tube for a specified amount of time. One can also have a diffusion capacity measurement done by breathing a tracer gas that is harmless for a short amount of time for one breath. The gas is measured as one breathes out and the difference between the gas breathed in and exhaled is measured. This type of testing checks for oxygen movement from the air into the bloodstream.
This test is done a part of a routine physical and is used to alert the doctor to any possible problems with the lungs. This non-invasive test is quick and produces very little discomfort.
Spirometers have been around since 129 A. D. When a bladder was used to check the lung capacity of a boy in Greece. Today we base this technology on the principals developed in 1974 to accurately measure lung volume to aid in the monitoring and detection of lung disease and the effects of treatments.
The patient is fitted with nose clips and breathes through a mouthpiece that is tight fitting for optimal results. Forced and fast breathing during testing can cause a feeling of being lightheaded or can cause a temporary shortness of breath. Age, ethnicity, race, and sex all determine normal range results. When test scores drop below 80 percent, the test is deemed to be abnormal, but ranges can vary with different laboratories.
If the test is abnormal this can be an indication of a lung disease or a chest disease. Chronic bronchitis, infections, asthma, and emphysema can cause the lungs to have too much air in them and take a longer to empty. These conditions are known as obstructive disorders of the lungs and can result in scarring and a limited capacity causing problems with the transfer of oxygen into the bloodstream and limiting the amount of air in the lungs. Being very overweight, having lung cancer, fibrosis of the lungs, or scleroderma and sarcoidosis can be contributing factors.
The risk is minimal in taking this test for most patients. For those people who have certain lung diseases there is an occasional risk of a lung collapsing. Those who have heart disease or a recent heart attack should avoid taking this test.
Being cooperative during testing is very important to receive the most accurate results. The seal around the mouthpiece must be tight or the device will product results that are hard to understand. Smoking or eating a heavy meal should be avoided for 4 to 6 hours before testing. People using bronchodilators or inhaler medications will receive special instruction.
Another way to measure lung volume is by breathing helium or nitrogen gas through a tube for a specified amount of time. One can also have a diffusion capacity measurement done by breathing a tracer gas that is harmless for a short amount of time for one breath. The gas is measured as one breathes out and the difference between the gas breathed in and exhaled is measured. This type of testing checks for oxygen movement from the air into the bloodstream.
This test is done a part of a routine physical and is used to alert the doctor to any possible problems with the lungs. This non-invasive test is quick and produces very little discomfort.
Spirometers have been around since 129 A. D. When a bladder was used to check the lung capacity of a boy in Greece. Today we base this technology on the principals developed in 1974 to accurately measure lung volume to aid in the monitoring and detection of lung disease and the effects of treatments.
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