Spirometry
What is Spirometry?
Spirometry is a simple test used to help diagnose certain lung conditions. You may have been referred if you have symptoms such as a persistent cough or breathlessness, or your doctor feels you are at an increased risk of developing a particular lung condition.
Spirometry measures lung function by testing how much air you can breathe out in slow and forced blows. The slow and forced blows are performed through a small handheld device called a spirometer as shown in the photo below. A single use mouthpiece is applied to the device and a disposable nose clip will be supplied for use when performing the slow blows.
You will be seated during the spirometry test. Your height and weight will be measured and your blood pressure, oxygen saturation and heart rate will be checked prior to the test.
Please bring a list of your regular medications to your appointment, also your blue salbutamol / ventolin inhaler and spacer if you have one.
To complete the slow blows, you will be asked to take a deep breath in until your lungs are completely full and then gently breathe all the way to empty, making sure to blow out for as long as you possibly can.
To complete the forced blows, again you will be asked to take a deep breath in until your lungs are completely full and then to blow out as hard and as fast as you can until your lungs are completely empty. You will be asked to complete a minimum of three and a maximum of eight attempts of the slow and forced blows.
Sometimes after the initial test has been completed you may be advised to use a salbutamol, also known as Salamol or Ventolin, inhaler. If so after a 15-minute break you will then repeat the slow and forced blows, this is called reversibility testing. The clinician will advise you if reversibility testing is required on the day of your test.
Your appointment will last for approximately 45-60 minutes.
Contraindications for spirometry (Reasons you may not be able to have the test)
Coughing up blood
Collapsed lung or blood clot on your lungs
Unstable heart conditions such as recent heart attack, chest pains at rest or a high heart rate
Weakening to blood vessels called an aneurysm
Recent surgery including eye procedures
A chest or COVID infection in the last six weeks and use of antibiotics or steroids
Cold symptoms affecting your airways
Pregnancy
High blood pressure
Ear infections/ eardrum perforations
Feeling unwell on the day of your appointment or nausea/vomiting
Preparing for your spirometry appointment
To ensure an effective test result you must be well on the day of the test. You will be sent a questionnaire prior to your appointment to check for any potential contraindications to having a spirometry test as listed above.
Prior to your appointment if there have been any medical changes, you are feeling unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms please call 01621 734175 for advice or to arrange a new appointment.
Your appointment will take place at one of our spirometry diagnostic clinic bases or respiratory cabin. Our Spirometry clinics are based in Braintree, Burnham On Crouch, Chelmsford, Maldon and South Woodham Ferrers. The respiratory cabin is based in Chelmsford. The respiratory cabin is a pod-style clinical room with a filtration system that enables patients and clinicians to feel safe and protected whilst routine diagnostic procedures take place.
You will receive notification stating which location your appointment is at and additional information as required for this location.
Please note on the day there may be a slight delay to the time shown as your appointment, please take a seat in the clinics waiting area and a clinician will come to collect you. If attending the respiratory cabin in Chelmsford please wait in your car until a clinician calls you to come to the cabin as there is no waiting area inside the cabin.
Before the test
Please DO NOT take your inhaler from the day before your appointment, you can continue to use Salbutamol (Ventolin) four to six hours prior to your appointment.
Please do not take you prescribed preventer inhaler for 24 hours before the appointment. You can continue to use your reliever blue inhaler (Salbutamol / Ventolin) up to 6 hours prior to your appointment.
If you use a Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray, please bring this with you also.
No vaping for 24 hours
No smoking 24 hours
No alcohol four hours
No exercise for 30 minutes
No tight clothing
No large meals for two hours
No caffeine for two hours
Avoid foods high in nitrates for 12 hours such as beetroot and green leafy vegetables; rocket, spinach, green beans, and cabbage
Do wear loose and comfortable clothing that will not restrict your breathing
Do empty your bladder before the appointment
Please continue with all other medications including blood pressure medication.
It is very important that you follow the guidance listed above in preparation for your test, because any deviations can affect your results. If you have any issues with the guidance or you are unsure of any of the requirements, please call 01621 734175.
Risks and side effects
Spirometry is a straightforward test and is generally considered very safe. Some people may feel dizzy, faint, shaky, sick, or tired for a short period afterwards.
Most people are able to have a spirometry test safely. But the test increases the pressure inside your head, chest, stomach, and eyes as you breathe out, so it may need to be delayed or avoided if you have a condition that could be made worse by this.
For example, spirometry may not be safe if you have, or have recently had, unstable angina, recent heart attack, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a recent operation to your head, chest, stomach, or eyes.
FeNO testing
FeNO testing is an additional simple breath test used to support a diagnosis of asthma. It measures how much nitric oxide is in your lungs when you take a steady breath out.
Nitric oxide is a gas produced in your lungs when your airways are inflamed, usually because you are allergic to something breathed in.
The test is performed through a handheld device with a disposable mouthpiece, as shown in the photo below. The device displays a helpful visual prompt to follow, and the clinician will also support you to complete the test correctly.
Your results
The person carrying out the test won’t usually be able to give you your results immediately.
The results will need to be looked at by a specialist first and will then be sent to the doctor who referred you for the test, usually within two weeks.
A spirometer measures the amount of air you can breathe out in one second and the total volume of air you can exhale in one forced breath.
These measurements will be compared with a normal result for someone of your age, height, and sex, which will help show if your lungs aren’t working properly.
The measurements will also show whether any problem with your lungs is “obstructive”, “restrictive”, or a combination of the two: obstructive airways disease - where your ability to breathe out quickly is affected by narrowing of the airways, but the amount of air you can hold in your lungs is normal (such as in asthma or COPD) restrictive lung disease - where the amount of air you can breathe in is reduced because your lungs are unable to fully expand (such as in pulmonary fibrosis)
Reminder
If you are unable to attend or there have been any recent medical changes, please call 01621 743175. If you do not attend and have not cancelled the appointment, you will be discharged.
