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.

Spirometry is very simple test. There are several types of spirometers, but hey all use the same principle. Chronic pulmonary patients take this test quarterly, under supervision, but it can hardly be enough for their condition. Anyway, the results are instantly visible, and they allow your doctor to see the state of your lungs.

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.

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.

Patients recovering from surgery should practice breathing this way in cycles, about ten times every hour. Your doctor will prescribe you a proper therapy. Anyway, after breathing like that for a while, you need to clear your lungs coughing. It will get rid of some accumulated fluids and mucus. If you had surgery recently, and your incision is on your abdomen or your chest, protect it using pillow.

Every time you use your spirometer, you should keep tracking your results and write them down to show them to your doctor. This handy little device will provide valuable information about your health condition and may prevent numerous complications. It really is very useful for recovering patients, as well as for people suffering from chronic lung diseases.




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