Spirometry
Services
Indications
A spirometry test may be recommended by your doctor if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms or conditions:
- Shortness of Breath: Difficulty catching your breath.
- Asthma: Frequent wheezing or a persistent cough.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A condition that makes it hard to breathe, often accompanied by chest tightness and coughing.
- Lung Disease: Conditions that limit how well your lungs can function.
- Pre-Surgery Assessment: To check your lung function before surgery.
- Chronic Lung Issues: If you’re managing ongoing lung-related health problems or disabilities.
What is a Spirometry Test?
A spirometry test measures how well your lungs are working by testing how much air you can inhale, how much you can exhale, and how fast you can blow the air out. This test helps diagnose conditions like asthma and COPD, as well as monitor how well treatments are working.
What Can I Expect During the Test?
The spirometry test involves breathing into a mouthpiece connected to a machine, and your doctor may request either a pre-bronchodilator test, a post-bronchodilator test, or both, depending on their referral.
- Spirometry (Pre-Bronchodilator):
- You will start by breathing normally into the mouthpiece.
- Then, you’ll take a deep breath in and exhale as hard and fast as possible.
- This will be repeated at least three times to ensure accurate readings.
- The pre-bronchodilator test measures how your lungs perform without any medication to open your airways.
- Spirometry (Post-Bronchodilator):
- If your doctor’s referral includes a post-bronchodilator test, you’ll be given a bronchodilator medication, like Ventolin, which helps relax and open up your airways.
- After taking the medication, you’ll wait for about 4 minutes.
- You will then repeat the same breathing exercises, and the results will show how well your lungs respond to the bronchodilator.
Depending on your doctor’s referral, you might do just the pre-bronchodilator test, just the post-bronchodilator test, or both. The test usually takes 20-30 minutes to complete.
What Are the Risks of the Test?
The spirometry test is very safe. You might feel slightly light-headed or short of breath for a few moments after blowing into the mouthpiece, but this feeling goes away quickly. Some people with asthma may experience a temporary tightening of their airways during the test, but a healthcare professional will be there to assist if needed.
Preparation
(This test will take up to 30 minutes)
To make sure your spirometry test results are accurate, follow these guidelines:
- Medications: Certain inhalers or lung medications need to be stopped before the test. Here’s what to do:
- 12 hours before the test, stop taking these medications: Alvesco, Anoro, Atrovent, Beclomethasone, Breo, Breo-Ellipta, Bretaris, Brimica, Flixotide, Flutiform, Incruse, Onbrez, Oxis, Pulmicort, Salmeterol, Seebri, Seretide, Serevent, Singulair, Spiolto, Spiriva, Symbicort, Ultibro & Breezhaler.
- 4 hours before the test, stop taking these medications unless absolutely necessary: Airomir, Asmol, Bricanyl & Ventolin.
- Wear comfortable, loose clothing that doesn’t restrict your breathing.
- Avoid smoking for at least 6 hours before your test.
- Refrain from drinking alcohol for at least 4 hours before the test.
- Don’t eat a large meal within 2 hours of your test, as this can make it harder to breathe deeply.
- Avoid intense exercise for at least 1 hour before your appointment.
- Let us know if you’ve recently had:
- Eye, chest, brain or abdominal surgery (within the last 4 weeks).
- Chest pain, a recent heart attack, or an unstable heart condition.
- Active tuberculosis (TB) or a respiratory infection like a cold or the flu.
- A bulging blood vessel (aneurysm) in your chest, abdomen, or brain.
- Sinus or middle ear surgery or infection (within 1 week).
Following these steps helps ensure that your test results are reliable and give your doctor the information they need to best assess your lung health.
Request an Appointment with Sleepscope.
Call us or submit a request form to make an online booking.
Request an Appointment with Sleepscope.
Call us or submit a request form to make an online booking.