- What is it for
- Spirometry price
- How Spirometry is done
- How to prepare for the exam
- How to interpret the result
The spirometry exam is a diagnostic test that allows you to assess respiratory volumes, that is, the amount of air entering and leaving the lungs, as well as flow and time, being considered the most important exam to assess lung function.
Thus, this examination is requested by the general practitioner or pulmonologist to help diagnose various respiratory problems, mainly COPD and asthma. In addition to spirometry, see other tests to diagnose asthma.
However, spirometry may also be ordered by the doctor just to assess whether there was an improvement in a lung disease after starting treatment, for example.
What is it for
The spirometry exam is usually requested by the doctor to assist in the diagnosis of respiratory problems, such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), bronchitis and pulmonary fibrosis, for example.
In addition, the pulmonologist can also recommend the performance of spirometry as a way of monitoring the evolution of the patient with respiratory diseases, being able to verify if he is responding well to the treatment and, if not, being able to indicate another form of treatment.
In the case of high-performance athletes, such as marathoners and triathletes, for example, the doctor may indicate the performance of spirometry to assess the athlete's breathing capacity and, in some cases, provide information to improve the athlete's performance.
Spirometry price
The price of spirometry is approximately R $ 100.00, however, it may vary according to the parameters evaluated and the clinic selected for the exam.
How Spirometry is done
Spirometry is a simple and quick exam, with an average duration of 15 minutes, which is done in the doctor's office. To start the exam, the doctor places a rubber band on the patient's nose and asks him to breathe only through his mouth. Then he gives the person a device and says to blow air as hard as possible.
After this first step, the doctor can also ask the patient to use a medication that dilates the bronchi and facilitates breathing, known as a bronchodilator, and perform the breath again in the device, in this way it is possible to check if there is an increase in the amount of inspired air after using the medication.
Throughout this process, a computer records all the data obtained through the exam so that the doctor can evaluate it later.
How to prepare for the exam
The preparation for the spirometry exam is very simple, and includes:
- Do not smoke 1 hour before the exam; Do not drink alcoholic drinks until 24 hours before; Avoid eating a very heavy meal before the exam; Wear comfortable and slightly tight clothing.
This preparation prevents the lung capacity from being affected by factors other than a possible disease. Thus, if there is no adequate preparation, it is possible that the results may change, and it may be necessary to repeat the spirometry.
How to interpret the result
Spirometry values vary according to the person's age, sex and size and, therefore, should always be interpreted by the doctor. However, normally, right after the spirometry test, the doctor already makes some interpretation of the results and informs the patient if there is a problem.
Typically the results of spirometry that indicate respiratory problems are:
- Forced expiratory volume (FEV1 or FEV1): represents the amount of air that can be exhaled quickly in 1 second and, therefore, when it is below normal it can indicate the presence of asthma or COPD; Forced vital capacity (VCF or FVC): it is the total amount of air that can be exhaled in the shortest possible time and, when it is less than normal, it may indicate the presence of lung diseases that hinder lung expansion, such as cystic fibrosis, for example.
Generally, if the patient presents altered spirometry results, it is common for the pulmonologist to request a new spirometry test to assess respiratory volumes after making an asthma inhaler, for example, to assess the degree of the disease and start the most appropriate treatment.
