Spirometers are a medical device used to measure respiration flow rates in the lungs. They record the amount of air breathed in and out over a specific period of time and are used to test the condition of a patient's lungs. Diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma can be tested for with this device. It is often used to find out the cause of shortness of breathe, to assess lung function due to contaminants, the effects of medications, and the progression of disease.
Based on a patient's sex, ethnicity, height, and age normal results can be determined. Values below 80 percent are considered to be abnormal, but the range can vary when using different labs. Nose clips are worn and the patient is asked to breathe through a mouthpiece. This forced and fast breathing can sometimes cause a temporary shortness of breath or lightheadedness.
An abnormal result can indicate a lung or chest disease. Diseases such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and infections can cause the lungs to take longer to empty and they can contain too much air. These are called obstructive lung disorders. Some diseases can cause the lungs to be scarred and become smaller so that they do not transfer oxygen into the blood and they contain too little air. Illnesses that contribute to this are being extremely overweight, sarcoidosis and scleroderma, lung cancer, and fibrosis of the lungs.
There is minimal risk in taking this test for most people. Occasionally there is a risk of a collapsed lung in those with certain lung diseases. People who have recently had a heart attack or other types of heart disease should not take this test.
Being cooperative during testing is very important to receive the most accurate results. The seal around the mouthpiece must be tight or the device will product results that are hard to understand. Smoking or eating a heavy meal should be avoided for 4 to 6 hours before testing. People using bronchodilators or inhaler medications will receive special instruction.
Another type of test that is administered to check lung volume is done by breathing nitrogen or helium gas for a specific time period. Tracer gas is also used for diffusion capacity testing, this is a harmless gas that is inhaled for one breathe, then the gas is measured as one exhales and the difference is measured between the inhaled and exhaled amounts of gas. Oxygen movement is checked in air to the bloodstream transfer.
This test is a routine part of a physical and can alert the physician to possible problems with lung function for early detection and treatment. It is non-invasion and of minimal discomfort to the patient while being performed. It takes but a few minutes to get an accurate assessment of how the lungs are functioning.
Since the ancient Greeks used the first spirometers in 129 A. D. By creating a primitive bladder method to measure the capacity in a boy's lungs to today's methods developed in 1974, this device is an accurate way to measure the lung volume and to assist in the early detection of disease and the monitoring of medications.
Based on a patient's sex, ethnicity, height, and age normal results can be determined. Values below 80 percent are considered to be abnormal, but the range can vary when using different labs. Nose clips are worn and the patient is asked to breathe through a mouthpiece. This forced and fast breathing can sometimes cause a temporary shortness of breath or lightheadedness.
An abnormal result can indicate a lung or chest disease. Diseases such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and infections can cause the lungs to take longer to empty and they can contain too much air. These are called obstructive lung disorders. Some diseases can cause the lungs to be scarred and become smaller so that they do not transfer oxygen into the blood and they contain too little air. Illnesses that contribute to this are being extremely overweight, sarcoidosis and scleroderma, lung cancer, and fibrosis of the lungs.
There is minimal risk in taking this test for most people. Occasionally there is a risk of a collapsed lung in those with certain lung diseases. People who have recently had a heart attack or other types of heart disease should not take this test.
Being cooperative during testing is very important to receive the most accurate results. The seal around the mouthpiece must be tight or the device will product results that are hard to understand. Smoking or eating a heavy meal should be avoided for 4 to 6 hours before testing. People using bronchodilators or inhaler medications will receive special instruction.
Another type of test that is administered to check lung volume is done by breathing nitrogen or helium gas for a specific time period. Tracer gas is also used for diffusion capacity testing, this is a harmless gas that is inhaled for one breathe, then the gas is measured as one exhales and the difference is measured between the inhaled and exhaled amounts of gas. Oxygen movement is checked in air to the bloodstream transfer.
This test is a routine part of a physical and can alert the physician to possible problems with lung function for early detection and treatment. It is non-invasion and of minimal discomfort to the patient while being performed. It takes but a few minutes to get an accurate assessment of how the lungs are functioning.
Since the ancient Greeks used the first spirometers in 129 A. D. By creating a primitive bladder method to measure the capacity in a boy's lungs to today's methods developed in 1974, this device is an accurate way to measure the lung volume and to assist in the early detection of disease and the monitoring of medications.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.henanmedical.com for more helpful information about Spirometers - Why They Are Used
No comments:
Post a Comment