What should you know about mobile spirometry?

You breathe into a Spirometer through a disposable mouthpiece. The device records how forcefully and quickly air leaves your lungs and may repeat the manoeuvre to check consistency. The numbers can support assessment of breathlessness, wheeze, or a chronic cough, but they do not identify every cause of breathing symptoms.

Spirometry may form part of an assessment for asthma, COPD, or bronchiectasis. The pattern can be affected by effort, recent illness, smoking, medicines, and whether instructions were followed, so a clinician should explain what the result means for you.

Wear comfortable clothing, avoid a heavy meal immediately beforehand, and tell the tester about current inhalers, smoking, recent chest infection, chest pain, or surgery. Follow instructions about medicines rather than stopping an inhaler on your own. Try to seal your lips around the mouthpiece and give each breath your best effort.

Ask for a copy of the report and whether repeat testing or a full Spirometry appointment is needed. If smoking is contributing to symptoms, a Smoking Cessation Programme can be discussed. Inhaler Therapy may be considered only after the clinical assessment.

Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening breathlessness, blue or grey lips, inability to speak in full sentences, chest pain, fainting, confusion, or a severe asthma flare. Stop the test and tell the clinician if you become very dizzy, develop chest discomfort, or cannot recover your breathing after the manoeuvre.

Ask: Was the test technically reliable? What do the airflow measurements suggest? Should I repeat it when well or after inhaler instructions? Could smoking, infection, or another condition explain my symptoms? What action should I take if breathing worsens?