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dimanche 25 août 2013

Spirometers And How They Work

By Debra Cooley


Patients afflicted with respiratory disorders frequently benefit from the use of a medical testing device called a spirometer. Spirometers are designed to measure a person's breathing function in a highly detailed manner. This is especially helpful to individuals suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. Devices of this type measure the volume of air one is able to inhale, as well as the force of his or her respirations.

Used since the beginning of the nineteenth century, machines of this type are virtually always relied on to help diagnose lung problems. The technology behind them has been slowly perfected until a digital model was finally created. Although not all models offer digital readings, most modern devices of this type feature digital technology. Physicians can choose from a variety of spirometer units when performing tests of this type.

Giving an accurate prognosis can only be accomplished when the doctor can isolate one's lung capacity and respiratory strength. For this reason, devices of this type are found in virtually all medical facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes. In numerous instances, they are used on post surgery patients, even if the latter do not have lung conditions. Physicians may still use them to discover whether or not a person's lung capacity has returned to normal after having been placed under anesthesia.

To evaluate the result of a specific medication or medical treatment, doctors often use the aforementioned devices. Spirometers can also indicate whether or not a person's condition is getting better or progressing. If the individual's airflow is decreased or disrupted, the severity of the obstruction can be determined through the use of a spirometer. Therefore, essentially all lung doctors and pulmonologists use equipment of this type.

Devices of this kind are made from temporary tubing that is affixed to the measuring device and mouthpiece. The individual is usually instructed to close his or her mouth tightly around the latter and breathe in and out regularly. The patterns of his or her respirations are then recorded on a digital graph.

The results printed on the graph are forwarded to the patient's physician or pulmonologist. The latter can then evaluate the readings and use them to design an appropriate care plan for each individual being treated. The device can also help physicians to determine whether or not drug adjustments may be indicated.

In addition, spirometers are helpful for individuals who have rare disorders of the lung, such as mesothelioma. This is because they can monitor function in both the upper and lower regions of the lung, which is not something other testing devices can do. This particular function allows physicians to zero in on specific issues with ideal accuracy.

Testing with spirometers can take anywhere from several minutes to an hour. This will depend on the type of data the doctor wishes to retrieve. However, it rarely takes longer than sixty minutes to evaluate lung function with such a device. Because of the multi benefits they offer, such machines will probably remain a popular diagnostic tools among pulmonologists, physicians and other professionals in the health care field.




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