Lung Function Tests Made Easy E-Book

There is no need to prepare for a lung function test. It doesn't hurt or have any side effects. But you shouldn't smoke right before the test, and you should make sure you don't eat or drink too much. If you need medication, such as an asthma spray, it is best to first ask the doctor whether you can still use it as you would otherwise. Spirometry is the basic test used to measure lung function. It can be performed by either your family doctor or a specialist.

The test measures the amount of air you inhale and exhale, and how fast the air is breathed in and out. You do this test while in a seated position. After taking a few normal breaths, you exhale into a mouthpiece as forcefully or as long as possible, depending on what the examiner asks you to do. Its important to follow their instructions carefully to ensure the best results. Your nose will be pinched with a nose clip to prevent you from breathing through your nose. The mouthpiece is connected to a device called a spirometer.

This device measures the amount of air you inhale and exhale when you breathe. The measurements are then displayed as a graph on the device's monitor. The test takes just a few minutes to complete. If other tests are done too see below , it could take between 30 and 90 minutes in total. Spirometry can help find out things like how narrow the airways are in someone who has asthma , or determine how severe lung hyperinflation is in pulmonary emphysema.

Whole-body plethysmography also called body plethysmography can deliver more exact results and additional information. This test is usually only done by a lung specialist pulmonologist. It involves sitting in an airtight chamber and breathing in and out of a mouthpiece, like in the spirometry test. When you breathe in and out your chest moves up and down, causing the pressure inside of the chamber to change.

The changes in pressure are used to determine the amount of air you inhale and exhale, and also the amount of air that stays in your lungs residual volume. Even when you exhale as hard as you can, a small amount of air remains in your lungs. Airway resistance is also measured. This goes up if the path through the bronchi is narrowed, for instance by asthma or COPD. You don't need to breathe as hard as you can for this measurement.

Normal, calm breathing is enough. This procedure takes a few minutes and is slightly more elaborate than spirometry. Since the measurements rely less on the active participation of the person being examined, it is suitable for young children too. This test allows people with a diagnosed lung disease to monitor the condition on their own.

To perform the test, you hold a portable measuring device called a peak flow meter horizontally in front of your mouth. You inhale, hold your breath, and then exhale as forcefully as you can while keeping your lips tightly sealed around the mouthpiece. The maximum speed reached while exhaling the "peak flow" is recorded by the device. This test is supposed to be done once or twice a day, taking up to three measurements each time.

The highest value is then recorded each time. The peak flow meter must be completely dry when it is used , and it needs to be cleaned regularly. If one of the measured peak flow values is very different, you can seek medical advice or — if you have had patient education to learn how to do so — adjust your medication yourself. Blood gas analysis is used to measure the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood, among other things. This makes it easier to judge how severe COPD or an acute attack exacerbation are.

Navigation menu

Because oxygen-rich blood is needed for this test, it is not taken from one of the usual places like a vein in your arm or hand, but from your earlobe using a lancet. This blood, called capillary blood, has oxygen levels similar to those of blood from the arteries, but it is easier to sample. In specific situations, such as when monitoring artificial ventilation or in circulatory shock, the blood is taken directly from an artery in the wrist or thigh. Once the blood sample has been taken, a pressure bandage is applied to the wound to prevent bleeding.

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services. Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. We do not offer individual consultations.

I would recommend this reference manual. Fast service, good product. This wasn't what I expected it to be, but it was informative and there's a lot of information in it. Would I order it again?

That being said, the cost for this item was low enough to not be a issue, and I'm glad I have it now. Received in the mail no scratches or bends!!! Very easy to follow and compact!! Will definitely be a plus in my new field of work!!!! See all 10 reviews. Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway. Set up a giveaway. What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

There's a problem loading this menu right now. Learn more about Amazon Prime.

Get fast, free shipping with Amazon Prime. Get to Know Us. English Choose a language for shopping. Not Enabled Word Wise: Not Enabled Enhanced Typesetting: Amazon Music Stream millions of songs.

• Getting ready for your test.
• Tiberius Julius Alexander: A Historical Novel.
• REFERENCES.
• Foundations for a New Civilization!

Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers. Amazon Drive Cloud storage from Amazon. Alexa Actionable Analytics for the Web. AmazonGlobal Ship Orders Internationally. Amazon Inspire Digital Educational Resources. Amazon Rapids Fun stories for kids on the go. Amazon Restaurants Food delivery from local restaurants. ComiXology Thousands of Digital Comics. East Dane Designer Men's Fashion. Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands.