Spirometry

Be sure to tell your doctor

• Which inhalers and lung medicines you use. Your doctor will say if you need to skip them before the test
• If you recently had a heart attack, or eye, chest, or belly surgery
• If you have a cold, a fever, or are coughing up blood now
• Pregnancy

How to prepare

• Medicines. Sometimes you are asked not to use your inhaler for a few hours before the test. Do this only if your doctor says so.
• Smoking. Do not smoke for at least 1 hour before the test.
• Food and activity. Do not eat a big meal for 2 hours before, and no coffee in the morning. Do not rush to the room. Sit for 15 minutes first.
• Clothing. Wear loose clothes. A tight waistband or belt makes it hard to breathe in deeply.

What to bring

• Your referral
• The inhaler you use
• Past spirometry results

How it goes

1. The nurse measures your height and weight. Normal values depend on them
2. You sit down and a clip is put on your nose
3. You seal your lips tightly around a disposable mouthpiece
4. You breathe calmly, then on command take the deepest breath you can
5. Then right away you breathe out as hard as you can, long, all the way
6. This is repeated 3 or 4 times to get the best result
7. Sometimes you inhale medicine from an inhaler and repeat the test after 15 to 20 minutes

What you'll feel

• You need to try hard. The test depends on your effort
• You may feel dizzy or want to cough. It passes in a minute, and you can rest between tries

Afterwards

• You can go back to your day right away
• The report is usually given right away or the same day
• Your doctor will explain the result