A spirometry test measures how healthy your lungs are and can be used to help diagnose and monitor lung conditions. During the test, you will breathe out as much air as you can, as hard as you can, into a device called a spirometer. The test measures how much air you can blow out in total and how much air you can blow out in the first second of the test. The test should not be painful and usually takes less than 10 minutes.
Should you take a test?
Yes, if:
You smoke, or you used to smoke
You cough a lot
You become short of breath when walking quickly
You are worried about the health of your lungs
You are already receiving treatment for a lung condition
Your healthcare professional will show you how to blow into the spirometer before you begin. You may need to wear a soft clip over your nose to stop air leaking out of your nostrils. Before starting the test, you might be asked to breathe in deeply and out gently into the spirometer. You will then be asked to blow at least three times, but usually no more than 10 times, into the spirometer.
During the spirometry test, you must:
Breathe in as deeply as you can and place your lips tightly around the mouthpiece.
Try your hardest and blast out your air as quickly as possible.
Keep blowing out until your lungs are empty and your healthcare professional tells you to stop.
How should you prepare for the test?
The results of your test could be affected by certain activities, like smoking, drinking coffee, doing strenuous exercise and eating a large meal, beforehand.
If you take medications for a lung condition, you may be asked to not use them for a set amount of time before the test.
Ask your healthcare professional in advance of the test how you can prepare.
