What does a spirometer measure

smiley85243 · 06-19-2008, 09:36 PM

I went to my doctor yesterday and my siprometry was only 23%. They gave me a treatment and re did the test and it was still 23%. What exactly does this test measure? My doc was not happy with this percentage, this is the lowest it has ever been usually it's in the 50-55% range.

Thanks for your help

gcsmithjr · 06-19-2008, 11:49 PM

Spirometry measures the amount of air that you can inhale and exhale which helps the doctor understand how well your lungs are functioning. The percentage he mentions is probably the FEV1% which compares the amount you're able to exhale in 1 second to the total amount you're able to exhale.

The normal percentage for FEV1 is usually around 75% - 80% (meaning that you can force out about 75% of the total amount of air in your lungs in 1 second).

smiley85243 · 06-20-2008, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcsmithjr

Spirometry measures the amount of air that you can inhale and exhale which helps the doctor understand how well your lungs are functioning. The percentage he mentions is probably the FEV1% which compares the amount you're able to exhale in 1 second to the total amount you're able to exhale.

The normal percentage for FEV1 is usually around 75% - 80% (meaning that you can force out about 75% of the total amount of air in your lungs in 1 second).

Thank you for explaining what the measurement means. So what do you do if the number is way below what it should be? I have an appointment with a pulmologist on Monday.. I thought the doc I was going to was a pulmologist but he is strictly an allergist although he does deal with asthma. Is thee anything I should specifically ask him? I am really concerned that the test was so low.

Thank you everyone for all of your help

gcsmithjr · 06-20-2008, 07:59 AM

The pulmonologist will certainly re-run the test but you should tell him/her about the results and that you're concerned. In all likelihood the pulmonologist will adjust your medications to try to get that number back up to the normal range.

smiley85243 · 06-20-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcsmithjr

The pulmonologist will certainly re-run the test but you should tell him/her about the results and that you're concerned. In all likelihood the pulmonologist will adjust your medications to try to get that number back up to the normal range.

Thank you for your help. I wil definitely bring this to his attention. I am very concerned about it but the problem is I am on every med I can be on other than Pred and am still having difficulty. Every time I am off Pred I end up having difficulty again. I don;t want to be steroid dependent but then again I want to be able to breathe. My regular doc even put me on theophylline which I understand is not used much any more that it's an older drug. I am willing though to try anything to make this better so I can live a normal life.