What should you know about an office spirometer?

You breathe through a mouthpiece connected to the spirometer while wearing a nose clip or keeping your nose closed. The device records the amount of air moved and the speed of exhalation. Several attempts are usually needed so the clinician can check that the readings are consistent.

The result can help investigate breathlessness, cough, wheeze, or suspected asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A reading is interpreted with your symptoms, examination, age, height, and medical history; it is not a diagnosis by itself.

Wear comfortable clothing and follow the clinic's instructions about meals, smoking, exercise, and inhalers. Tell the clinician about recent chest infections, chest pain, dizziness, surgery, pregnancy, and medicines. During the test, seal your lips around the mouthpiece, inhale as instructed, then blow out hard and fully.

Temporary coughing, light-headedness, or tiredness can occur after forceful breaths. Tell the operator immediately if you feel unwell so the test can pause.

Contact a clinician about persistent breathlessness, wheeze, or cough rather than relying on a home interpretation of a result. Seek urgent care for severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, confusion, fainting, or chest pain.

Ask why spirometry is recommended, whether you should change any inhaler before testing, what the measurements mean for you, and whether repeat or additional testing is needed.