Spirometer And How To Use It

By Helene Norris


Spirometry is very important when it comes to your lungs. It measures the amount of air that you can breathe out and the time you need to do that. Numerous diseases related to lungs capacity can be diagnosed using spirometer. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and CF, as well as other obstructive and restrictive pulmonary diseases patients rely on this simple instrument.

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 personal spirometers can be mechanical or digital. Both types are simple to use, and very useful for all people having problems with their lungs. This include CF, Pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and similar problems. People with such diseases can avoid numerous serious problems if they track their lung condition regularly.

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.

Small personal incentive spirometer is very useful if you are recovering from surgery, for example. If you are forced to stay in bed for days, in pains, your breathing will become shallower and inadequate. This may result with lung collapse, and that's why it is so important to keep your lungs active and clean. Patients suffering from pneumonia and some chronic pulmonary problems will greatly benefit using this device.

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 has a tube you have to breathe air in through. A small ball or a piston will show you how much air you breathed in. Your doctor will give you special instructions about it. Over time, you will be able to breathe in more air, until normal level is reached. After you breathe in as much air as you can, keep it in for a few seconds, then breathe out normally.

Your doctor will tell you how long you should practice breathing this way. After recommended breaths, you should try to cough a few times, to remove built up mucus from your lungs. If you had any surgery recently, you should gently press a pillow on your incision while trying to cough, to reduce the pain.

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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