Spirometer And How To Use It

By Helene Norris


Spirometer is small and easy to use device used for spirometry. This procedure is used for measuring the amount of air that you breathe. It actually measures your lung capacity. For most restrictive and obstructive pulmonary diseases it is important to know how much air a patient can breathe out and how much time he needs for it.

Checking the degree of restriction or obstruction of air flow using medical spirometer is usually done quarterly. Medically supervised test takes just a few minutes, and you can see the results right away. There are different types of spirometers available, and some are more sophisticated, with more functions.

Small, easy to use digital spirometers are available for home use as well. They can become quite useful for all people suffering from lung diseases such as COPD or CF. Problems may appear days before the first symptoms, and they can be easily recognized using this simple test. The same test can also help patients recovering from surgery or pneumonia.

If performed regularly, spirometry can give your doctor a detailed insight into your lungs condition. If you track all the changes and compare them, you will be able to tell what's going on and inform your doctor about it. If recognized in time, various small problems can be solved before they become more serious.

Incentive spirometer is a simple tool that can help patients suffering from pulmonary diseases, but it can also be very useful for people who are recovering from surgery. Patients who need to stay in bed for a long time often have troubles breathing properly, and that can result with pneumonia and lung collapse. Using this simple tool might help you keep your lungs in good condition.

If you take only shallow, little breaths, you cannot provide enough fresh air to your lungs. As a result, fluids and mucus may build up in there, causing different infections, for example pneumonia. Spirometer can help you breathe properly and clear up all obstructed air passages. Deep breathing will clear up your lungs and prevent infections.

Incentive spirometer is very easy to use. Simple models have a piston or a ball that shows you the amount of air you breathed in. Your doctor will tell you how much air you should breathe in to keep your lung active at first. After some time, you will be able to breathe in more air. The method is quite simple; breathe in as much as you can, keep it in foe a few seconds and then breathe out.

You should follow your doctor's instructions, but the usual method is to breathe this way maybe ten times in a row, at least several times a day. After completing one cycle, you should cough to remove accumulated mucus. If you are recovering from your chest or abdominal surgery, press a pillow on your incision while coughing.

Spirometer will give you very precise results about your lung condition. Remember to write these results and show them to your doctor. Chronic pulmonary diseases patients will be able to track down all possible changes, and inform their doctor about these changes before they cause air flow obstructions and even more serious health problems.




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