Using Spirometers For Beneficial Purposes

By Debra Cooley

Patients afflicted with respiratory disorders frequently benefit from the use of a medical testing device called a spirometer. Spirometers are designed to measure a person's breathing function in a highly detailed manner. This is especially helpful to individuals suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. Devices of this type measure the volume of air one is able to inhale, as well as the force of his or her respirations.

Used since the beginning of the nineteenth century, machines of this type are virtually always relied on to help diagnose lung problems. The technology behind them has been slowly perfected until a digital model was finally created. Although not all models offer digital readings, most modern devices of this type feature digital technology. Physicians can choose from a variety of spirometer units when performing tests of this type.

Giving an accurate prognosis can only be accomplished when the doctor can isolate one's lung capacity and respiratory strength. For this reason, devices of this type are found in virtually all medical facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes. In numerous instances, they are used on post surgery patients, even if the latter do not have lung conditions. Physicians may still use them to discover whether or not a person's lung capacity has returned to normal after having been placed under anesthesia.

Evaluating the results of certain medications or medical treatments is another reason doctors may use the device mentioned above. Additionally, spirometers can tell practitioners if a person's condition is progressing or getting better. If disrupted or decreased airflow is discovered, a spirometer can help the doctor to determine the severity of the obstruction. For this reason, equipment of this kind is used by essentially all pulmonologists and lung doctors.

Devices of this kind are made from temporary tubing that is affixed to the measuring device and mouthpiece. The individual is usually instructed to close his or her mouth tightly around the latter and breathe in and out regularly. The patterns of his or her respirations are then recorded on a digital graph.

The results printed on the graph are forwarded to the patient's physician or pulmonologist. The latter can then evaluate the readings and use them to design an appropriate care plan for each individual being treated. The device can also help physicians to determine whether or not drug adjustments may be indicated.

In addition, those afflicted with rare lung disorders, including mesothelioma, can benefit from testing completed with spirometers. This is because such devices can do certain things other diagnostic tools cannot, such as monitoring both the lower and upper pulmonary regions. This specific benefit allows the pulmonologist or physician to zero in on specific problems with precise accuracy.

When spirometers are used for the aforementioned testing, the length of time it takes to complete the test will vary from a few minutes to an hour. This depends on the data for which the doctor is looking. In most cases, the test does not exceed one hour. Because of the numerous advantages they provide, this kind of device will likely remain a popular diagnostic tool with many professionals in the medical field, such as doctors or pulmonologists.

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