What to know about forced spirometry

You breathe into a mouthpiece after taking a full breath, then blow out as hard and as long as instructed. The device records airflow and exhaled volume. The result can help assess asthma, COPD, Bronchiectasis, or a persistent Chronic Cough. A clinician may repeat the manoeuvre to check consistency or compare readings before and after an inhaled medicine.

Wear comfortable clothing and avoid a heavy meal immediately beforehand if it makes deep breathing uncomfortable. Follow the clinic’s instructions about inhalers; do not stop prescribed treatment unless the testing team tells you to. Avoid smoking before the appointment, and mention chest pain, recent surgery, fainting, or an infection. During the test, make a tight seal around the mouthpiece and keep trying until the staff say the blow is complete.

Brief coughing, light-headedness, chest tightness, or tiredness can occur during repeated forceful blows. Tell the technician immediately if you feel faint or develop significant chest pain or breathlessness. Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, confusion, or symptoms that do not settle. Test results should be interpreted with your symptoms and examination rather than read in isolation.

What do my airflow and volume results suggest? Should I use my inhaler before testing? Do I need repeat testing or another lung assessment? How will the result affect my treatment plan?