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Spirometry with bronchodilator
spirometry with bronchodilator · bronchodilator reversibility test · pre and post spirometry · lung function test with inhaler
You breathe out hard into a tube, then inhale a medicine that opens the airways, and breathe out again. This shows if your breathing improves with the medicine.
For cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing, to check for asthma and COPD, or to track treatment.
⏱ Duration: usually 30 to 40 minutes; the report is often ready right away or the same day
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Inhalers. Some inhalers are not used for several hours before the test. Do not stop them on your own. Ask your doctor in advance.
- Smoking and coffee. Do not smoke for at least a few hours before the test. No coffee or strong tea in the morning.
- Food. A light breakfast, nothing heavy for 2 hours before. No hard exercise before the test.
- Clothing. Loose clothes, with no tight belt.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Your own inhalers
- Past spirometry results
- A list of your medicines
How it goes
- You sit, and a clip is put on your nose
- You seal your lips tightly around the tube
- You take a deep breath in and breathe out as hard and as long as you can
- You repeat this 3 times or more
- You inhale the medicine from an inhaler
- After 15 to 20 minutes, you repeat the breaths out
What you'll feel
- The repeated breaths may make you dizzy or want to cough
- The medicine can cause slight shaking or a fast heartbeat. It passes
Afterwards
- You can go back to your usual day right away
- Use your own inhalers as usual, unless your doctor said otherwise
- The report is often ready right away
Common questions
Why the medicine during the test?
If breathing clearly improves after it, this helps the doctor understand the illness and how to treat it.
Can I use my inhaler in the morning?
Do not decide on your own. Ask your doctor in advance. Some inhalers should not be used before the test.