Spirometer Test – Lung Function Test

[Milzy]

Occupational health showed up today. My Spiro test was 100ml under 18 months back. I’ve just got rid of a nasty cold. Might have been a form of Covid.
She was very concerned like I’m getting COPD or maybe my old asthma is back. Maybe it is the fumes?
My wife says those screening people scare people and don’t get accurate results. I’m getting PB’s on the bike and don’t have any wheezing. I think I’d notice 100ml difference. One time they said I had blood in my urine when I didn’t. I suppose I can get the GP to do a proper fair test. Probably worrying for nothing.

 

[vickster]

Have you ever smoked?

 

[classic33]

The average lung capacity is 6000ml(6 litres), so would you notice a 2% drop?

I've been told not to take the test result on it's own. More as part of a set of tests.

 

[I like Skol]

I’m getting PB’s on the bike and don’t have any wheezing. I think I’d notice 100ml difference.

There you go then, nothing to worry about.

I had a lung function test a couple of years ago after investigations for a persistent cough that took around 12 months to finally clear. Supranormal was the classification used and I had a bit of a chuckle about this with the specialist because I had to ask what it meant..... He said there were professional athletes who would pay good money for my lungs because my results were way off in the outliers!

I think I am either a freak of science and nature, or maybe I just fluked the result (although the nurse that administered the test did repeat it because she thought the score was odd)?

I wouldn't give too much concern about a single odd result that doesn't fit with your general health otherwise. Maybe try to get retested in a few months and see where you are then.

 

[numbnuts]

I had smoked all my life and worked as a Blacksmith, in 2000 I was getting short of breath so I was sent to have a chest X-ray, came back I had emphysema.
Each year after that I had a lung function test and the results were normal ??? and this carried on year after year, in 2010 I had to have another X-ray for asbestoses and it came back ….........clear.
My doctor queried the results, later it came back “lungs totally clear of asbestoses and no sign of any emphysema”....... miss diagnoses on the first X-ray

 

[Milzy]

Have you ever smoked?

No I’m a roadie and smoking is disgusting.

 

[tom73]

According to Mrs 73 a Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist , Spirometry on it's own can't give a clear picture of a possible condition.
As your wife points out they wont have been able to carry out the test fully and mostly don't have the full testing machine.
As you have no notable effects day to day and your numbers will change due to age as everyone else's number will. Don't worry about it. She assumes a reversible test was not carry out. I.E get you to take an inhaler and carry out the test again. Then they can't say say its maybe asthma. As for emphysema the capacity test will always come back as normal but the excessive capacity reading will be high.
An X-ray won't be much good either CT scan is most effective way to go.

It's worth remembering generally that asthma is not a type of COPD people can have COPD and asthma. But just asthma alone is not COPD.

 

[albion]

Worth noting that my doctors do not do spiro tests anymore, they first stopping during Covid.
I very much doubt this is national, it not quite making sense.

Get to only 300 on the meter, you might notice.

 

[T4tomo]

There you go then, nothing to worry about.

I had a lung function test a couple of years ago after investigations for a persistent cough that took around 12 months to finally clear. Supranormal was the classification used and I had a bit of a chuckle about this with the specialist because I had to ask what it meant..... He said there were professional athletes who would pay good money for my lungs because my results were way off in the outliers!

I think I am either a freak of science and nature, or maybe I just fluked the result (although the nurse that administered the test did repeat it because she thought the score was odd)?

I wouldn't give too much concern about a single odd result that doesn't fit with your general health otherwise. Maybe try to get retested in a few months and see where you are then.

It must be a close call between yourself and @Drago as to who is the most amazing physical specimen of a human being ever...

 

[tom73]

Worth noting that my doctors do not do spiro tests anymore, they first stopping during Covid.
I very much doubt this is national, it not quite making sense.

Get to only 300 on the meter, you might notice.

That maybe down to a number of things or a combo of things. During covid routine Spirometry in most settings stopped as it was classed as high risk. Mrs 73 team have now restarted them but only in a room with the required high volume ventilation system. They still have yet to restart at home tests.
Your drs may have yet to restart them, they may not have right levels of safe ventilation, the person trained to do them may have left. Or feels they need a refresher due to brake in doing them. The machine certificate may have ran out and needs retesting due to time lapsed since covid. Or the machine maybe in need of replacing and funds don't allow.

 

[Drago]

I've always done slightly under average on those tests.

And pipe spmokers are very sexy people.

 

[Peter Salt]

100ml is a very small difference. And cycling won't increase your lung capacity much. To increase it, best idea is to do physical activities that require you to control your breathing - swimming is a great example.

 

[fossyant]

It must be a close call between yourself and @Drago as to who is the most amazing physical specimen of a human being ever...

One does at least ride his bike ! I've seen him !

 

[fossyant]

100ml is a very small difference. And cycling won't increase your lung capacity much. To increase it, best idea is to do physical activities that require you to control your breathing - swimming is a great example.

Like cycling up hill - a lot !

 

[albion]

That maybe down to a number of things or a combo of things. During covid routine Spirometry in most settings stopped as it was classed as high risk. Mrs 73 team have now restarted them but only in a room with the required high volume ventilation system. They still have yet to restart at home tests.
Your drs may have yet to restart them, they may not have right levels of safe ventilation, the person trained to do them may have left. Or feels they need a refresher due to brake in doing them. The machine certificate may have ran out and needs retesting due to time lapsed since covid. Or the machine maybe in need of replacing and funds don't allow.

Stick your head out of a window