What should you know about the Helios 702 spirometer?

Spirometry measures airflow as you breathe into a mouthpiece. The clinician may ask you to breathe normally, take a deep breath and then blow out as hard and as long as instructed. The device displays measurements that can help assess narrowed airways, reduced lung volume or a change after an inhaled medicine. A reading is interpreted with your age, height, symptoms, examination and test technique; a device result alone does not identify a specific condition.

Wear comfortable clothing and tell the clinician about chest pain, recent surgery, an infection, dizziness or medicines that may affect breathing. Follow the mouthpiece seal and keep your effort consistent across attempts. Coughing, an air leak or stopping too soon can affect the trace, so the test may be repeated. Do not change prescribed medicines unless the testing team gives you instructions.

Seek urgent help for severe breathlessness at rest, blue or grey lips, confusion, fainting, chest pain, or an inability to speak in full sentences. Contact a clinician promptly if wheezing or breathlessness is worsening, waking you repeatedly, or not improving with your prescribed reliever plan. Stop a test and tell the staff if you feel faint or develop chest discomfort.

Ask which measurements were outside the expected range, whether the test was technically adequate, and whether a repeat test or inhaler response test is needed. Clarify what symptoms should trigger urgent care and how your current medicines fit the plan.