How To Use Your Spirometer

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.

There are several types of spirometers. Patients with various lung diseases typically take spirometry quarterly, under medical supervision. The test takes about few minutes, and the results are available instantly. The results show the degree of obstruction or restriction of air flow within the lung.

Personal spirometers are also available, and can be very useful to all patients suffering from asthma, COPD and CF. Testing and tracking your lung function can be of a great help for people recovering from pneumonia, and all other patients suffering from lung diseases. You will be able to detect possible problems and inform your doctor about them timely.

Regular spirometry can provide very useful insight into your health condition, especially when these results are compared with previous ones. Daily spirometry could detect various problems and help you recognize your symptoms in time. This way you can seek medical care in time and prevent more serious problems, for example pneumonia.

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 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.

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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