Why We Use Spirometers And What They Tell Us

By Patty Summers


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.

Based on a patient's sex, ethnicity, height, and age normal results can be determined. Values below 80 percent are considered to be abnormal, but the range can vary when using different labs. Nose clips are worn and the patient is asked to breathe through a mouthpiece. This forced and fast breathing can sometimes cause a temporary shortness of breath or lightheadedness.

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.

For most, this test poses very little risk, but there are conditions that could cause the risk of a collapsed lung such as those who have certain lung diseases. People who have heart disease or have recently experienced a heart attack should avoid this test.

Cooperation is of the utmost importance when taking this test for the best results. The mouthpiece seal must be tight or the results will be bad and difficult to interpret. Smoking is not advised for at least 4 to 6 hours beforehand and do not eat a heavy meal prior to testing. People who use inhaler medications or a bronchodilator will get special instructions.

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.

Since the ancient Greeks used the first spirometers in 129 A. D. By creating a primitive bladder method to measure the capacity in a boy's lungs to today's methods developed in 1974, this device is an accurate way to measure the lung volume and to assist in the early detection of disease and the monitoring of medications.




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