What should you know about ICS spirometry?

You breathe into a spirometer, a device that records airflow. The clinician may ask you to repeat forceful breaths so the results are consistent. Some appointments include a repeat measurement after a prescribed inhaler to see whether airflow changes. The results can support assessment of asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, or a persistent cough, but they are interpreted alongside symptoms, examination findings, and your medical history.

Wear comfortable clothing and follow the clinic's instructions about medicines, meals, smoking, and exercise before the appointment. Tell the team if you are unwell, have chest pain, have recently had surgery, or feel unable to perform a forceful breath.

Bring a list of medicines and inhalers, including when you last used them. Do not stop prescribed treatment unless the testing team specifically tells you to. During the test, sit upright, seal your lips around the mouthpiece, and follow the breathing instructions closely. Coughing, dizziness, or tiredness can affect the attempt; tell the clinician rather than pushing through symptoms.

Ask how and when your results will be explained. If smoking affects your breathing, a smoking cessation programme may support your next steps. Inhaler therapy may be discussed when symptoms and test findings point to airflow narrowing.

Arrange prompt medical advice for worsening breathlessness, wheezing that is not settling, coughing up blood, fainting, or chest pain. Seek emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, confusion, or inability to speak in full sentences. These warning signs need assessment whether or not spirometry has been arranged.

Ask what the measurements show, whether you need the test repeated, which inhalers or medicines should be withheld beforehand, and when you will receive the interpretation. You can also ask whether your symptoms fit asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, or another cause.