Spirometers And How They Work

By Debra Cooley


Patients afflicted with respiratory disorders frequently benefit from the use of a medical testing device called a spirometer. Spirometers are designed to measure a person's breathing function in a highly detailed manner. This is especially helpful to individuals suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. Devices of this type measure the volume of air one is able to inhale, as well as the force of his or her respirations.

Machines of this type were used since the early 1900s, and are frequently relied on to assist diagnosticians to evaluate lung problems. Digital models were eventually created as a result of perfected medical technology. Even though not all units provide digital readings, most contemporary models boast this technology. Healthcare practitioners can select from various barometer models when performing such tests.

Isolating a patient's lung capacity and respiratory strength plays an important role in the accuracy of the prognosis. This is why devices of this type are used in virtually all medical facilities, including acute care hospitals or long-term care establishments. They are also frequently utilized by doctors who want to discover if those who have recently been operated on and are awakening from anesthesia are returning to normal lung function.

Evaluating the results of certain medications or medical treatments is another reason doctors may use the device mentioned above. Additionally, spirometers can tell practitioners if a person's condition is progressing or getting better. If disrupted or decreased airflow is discovered, a spirometer can help the doctor to determine the severity of the obstruction. For this reason, equipment of this kind is used by essentially all pulmonologists and lung doctors.

Such units are made from disposable tubing that is attached to a mouthpiece and a measuring device. The person must usually close his or her lips snugly around the mouthpiece and then proceed to breathe in and out in a normal pattern. His or her respiratory patterns are then recorded digitally and displayed on a graph.

The results are printed and given to the person's pulmonologist or physician. Such professionals can then evaluate the results and create an appropriate plan of care for the patient. Devices of this type also help doctors to determine whether or not medication adjustments are necessary.

In addition, those afflicted with rare lung disorders, including mesothelioma, can benefit from testing completed with spirometers. This is because such devices can do certain things other diagnostic tools cannot, such as monitoring both the lower and upper pulmonary regions. This specific benefit allows the pulmonologist or physician to zero in on specific problems with precise accuracy.

Testing with spirometers can take anywhere from several minutes to an hour. This will depend on the type of data the doctor wishes to retrieve. However, it rarely takes longer than sixty minutes to evaluate lung function with such a device. Because of the multi benefits they offer, such machines will probably remain a popular diagnostic tools among pulmonologists, physicians and other professionals in the health care field.




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