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Spirometry
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Spirometry is a test that turns an exhalation into a measurement. First, a deep breath fills the lungs. Then the person blows out forcefully into the device.
The test does more than measure how much air came out in total, as if someone were simply emptying a container. The spirometer follows the exhalation as it happens, recording the volume and how much air leaves at specific points in time. That produces a trace of the entire exhalation rather than a single snapshot. This card explains what the test measures; interpreting an individual curve or result requires additional context.
In brief
Spirometry is a pulmonary function test that measures how much air leaves the lungs.
The person takes a deep breath and then blows out forcefully; the device records the total volume of air exhaled and how much can be exhaled at specific times.
The test does not just measure the total amount of air. It also tracks how quickly that air leaves during the maneuver.
Sources (1)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteTests for Lung Disease
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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