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.

Different diseases may affect your breathing and cause serious problems. If you check it regularly, you will be able to recognize the symptoms in time. You can inform your doctor about your lung capacity and get medical help sooner.

Incentive spirometer is mostly used after different surgeries, for people recovering from pneumonia or suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and similar diseases, or any other health condition that requires staying in bed for longer period of time. It helps you breathe properly and keeps your lungs clear and active. It can also prevent a collapse of one or both of your lungs.

During recovery period, people usually breathe shallow. Lungs cannot receive enough air this way, and fluids and mucus can obstruct their airways within one or both lungs. Built fluids can cause infections and pneumonia. That's why it is so important to breathe properly. Using spirometer may help you breathing properly, and this will keep your lungs clean and active.

Incentive spirometer can be mechanical, with simple tube to breathe in and ball showing you the amount of air breathed in and out. Digital ones are easier to use, but work on the same principle. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions about the amount of air you should breathe in in the beginning. You should practice it until you normal level is achieved. Breathe in, wait for few seconds and 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.

Small and handy digital spirometer is easy to use. Remember to write down your results regularly, to keep track of your lungs condition. These information will be valuable to your doctor, and numerous complications can be recognized and prevented this way. Irreplaceable for chronic lung diseases patients, spirometer can be very useful for patients recovering from surgery as well.




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