What should you know about incentive respiratory spirometry?

An incentive spirometer is a handheld breathing exerciser. Its marker or chamber gives visual feedback as you inhale steadily. It is often used after illness, surgery or reduced movement to encourage lung expansion. Spirometry is a supervised lung-function test using a mouthpiece and a spirometer. You breathe in fully and then blow out with effort so the team can assess airflow. Neither device alone identifies the cause of every breathing problem. Asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis and chronic cough may need different assessments.

Sit upright, seal your lips around the mouthpiece and inhale slowly enough to raise the indicator without forcing the breath. Hold the breath briefly if your clinician instructed you to, then rest and repeat as directed. Coughing, dizziness or chest discomfort means you should pause and tell the healthcare team. For formal spirometry, follow instructions about medicines, smoking, meals and activity; do not stop prescribed treatment without advice. Clean or store the device as instructed.

Seek urgent help for severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, confusion, fainting, chest pressure, or difficulty speaking because of breathlessness. Contact your clinician promptly when cough, wheeze, fever, blood in phlegm or reduced exercise tolerance is worsening. A breathing device is supportive and does not replace prescribed inhaler therapy, antibiotics or other treatment when those are needed.

Ask which device you have, what the indicator or test values mean, how often to use it, and what symptoms should make you stop. Clarify whether your regular inhalers should be used before testing and whether smoking cessation support could improve your breathing care.