Instructions for a Spirometer

An incentive spirometer is a small, portable device that measures how well your lungs inflate with air. A doctor may recommend that you use this device if you have lung problems or if you smoke heavily to help improve lung function. It also helps open up the respiratory passages after surgery. Fortunately, most people can master the technique for using an incentive spirometer fairly quickly.

Instructions

• 1

  Hold the incentive spirometer in front of your face with the mouthpiece pointed towards you.

• 2

  Place the mouthpiece in your mouth, and close your lips tightly around it.

• 3

  Inhale slowly and deeply while watching the markings on the spirometer column. The pointer should slowly rise as you inhale. Try to breath in deeply enough to reach the level on the column your health care provider recommended.

• 4

  Remove your lips from the mouthpiece when you can no longer inhale any deeper, and hold your breath as long as possible. Then let the air out.

• 5

  Repeat this sequence at least five times every hour or as recommended by your health care provider. After each session, cough to loosen up any mucous in your lungs and airways.