Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Spirometers












Spirometers
A spirometer is a device used by your physician that assesses lung function. Spirometry, the evaluation of lung function with a spirometer, is one of the simplest, most common pulmonary function tests and may be necessary for any/all of the following reasons:
  • to determine how well the lungs receive, hold, and utilize air
  • to monitor a lung disease
  • to monitor the effectiveness of treatment
  • to determine the severity of a lung disease
  • to determine whether the lung disease is restrictive (decreased airflow) or obstructive (disruption of airflow)
After taking a deep breath, a person forcefully breathes out into the spirometer as completely and forcefully as possible. The spirometer measures both the amount of air expelled and how quickly the air was expelled from the lungs. The measurements are recorded by the spirometer.

The normal, healthy values measured by the spirometer for the amount of air exhaled vary from person to person. Your results are compared to the average expected in someone of the same age, height, sex, and race, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). However, if the values fall below 80 percent of the average, it may indicate a lung disease or other airflow obstruction. If a person has abnormal spirometer measurements, he/she may be referred for other lung tests to establish a diagnosis.

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