Thursday, November 21, 2013

All You Must Know About Spirometer

By Marsha Klein


Due to the drastic scientific advancements that we see today, our lives have become much easier. The life span of every individual has also increased since there is some medical cure or other to help people live longer. But before starting treatment it is important to diagnose health problems. If you are worried about your lung then you can use a spirometer to help diagnose and even aid your lung. The equipment generally helps track inhalation and exhalation rate as well as lung capacity.

When we talk of this machine we are not talking about just a single device. There are many varieties of this device that works in different ways to measure lung function and capacity. One common variety of this machine is Pneumotachometer. Here the patient is allowed to breath in natural air that has not been treated through any machine.

Another common device is the whole body plethysmograph. This device requires the patient to occupy an enclosed space, generally the size of a telephone booth. Having been placed in the enclosed space, the patient is given a device to breath into and out of. As the patient breathes in and out the meter records the air breathed in and out.

Devices that use movable parts and meshes are bound to offer incorrect readings at times. The chances of such error are reduced with the help of the electronic devices. The device uses ultrasonic transducers and change in air pressure to measure the lung capacity. So, it can offer a more correct reading.

Since measuring lung capacity may not be enough for many recovering patients, there are devices that can help patients recover. The Incentive Spirometers are devices that patients need to blow into and hold the breath for a few seconds. After which there is a backflow. This backflow helps pop the alveoli that help breathing.

The power of the lung can be measured best by measuring the out flow of the lung. The hand held version, peak flow meter, measures the rate of airflow through the bronchi. If there is any obstruction in the air flow then the measurements can tell you that. So the machine can help detect any kind of blockage in the lung.

Having rotating discs measure the air flow instead of any fluid is the best way to measure lung capacity. You can thus blow into the windmill-type or spiropet device to get the measurements. Expert supervision may be required to help you hold the device in the right position. If the device is not held horizontally the measurements may be incorrect.

Similarly the tilt type spirometer needs to be held in a slightly angular horizontal position. This position is the correct position in which the device must be held while the measurement is taken. If the device is moved even a bit then the measurements may be off. There are devices that you can use all by yourself. In all you can trust these devices to give you the right lung readings.




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