What should you know about inhalation spirometer?

You breathe in through a mouthpiece while a marker or piston responds to the airflow. The aim is a controlled breath, not a forceful gulp. This exercise can encourage air to reach deeper parts of the lungs and may be recommended when pain, anaesthesia, or reduced movement makes deep breathing less comfortable. It does not diagnose every breathing problem by itself; a clinician may use formal spirometry to measure airflow and lung volume.

Sit upright and seal your lips around the mouthpiece. Breathe out normally, then inhale slowly through the device as directed. Hold the breath briefly if your clinician has shown you to do so, remove the mouthpiece, and rest before repeating. Keep the device clean according to its instructions. Stop if you feel dizzy, develop chest pain, or become markedly breathless, and tell the supervising clinician.

Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening breathlessness, blue or grey lips, confusion, fainting, or chest pain. Contact a clinician promptly if breathing remains difficult, fever accompanies a cough, or the device exercise repeatedly causes wheezing. A spirometer is an aid, not a substitute for assessment when symptoms are new or worsening.

Ask how often to use the device, what target movement is reasonable for you, and whether pain control or another breathing exercise would help. Clarify how to clean it and which changes should prompt a call.