What should you know about an nSpire spirometer?

During spirometry, you breathe through a mouthpiece while the device records airflow and lung volume. You usually take a deep breath and blow out hard, then repeat the manoeuvre so the clinician can check whether the effort was consistent. The equipment gives measurements; it does not diagnose a condition by itself.

Results may help assess asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other breathing problems, and may be compared with your symptoms and examination. A clinician might repeat the test after an inhaler to see whether airflow changes.

Wear comfortable clothing and follow the clinic’s instructions about inhalers, smoking, meals and strenuous activity before the appointment. Tell the tester if you have chest pain, a recent operation, a recent infection or difficulty giving a forceful breath. During the test, seal your lips around the mouthpiece and follow coaching closely; coughing or a poor seal can affect the reading.

You may feel briefly light-headed or tired after forceful blows. Sit and recover between attempts, and tell the clinician if you feel unwell.

Tell the testing team immediately about severe breathlessness, chest pain, faintness, wheezing that does not settle or coughing blood. Outside the appointment, urgent help is needed for sudden severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, confusion or inability to speak in full sentences.

Ask what the test is investigating, whether you should pause any inhaler, how your effort affects interpretation, when results will be ready and what further assessment may be needed.