| Spirometry measures how much and how fast air is forcefully expelled from fully inflated lungs. It is the recommended standard of care for the diagnosis and monitoring of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); and is useful in the treatment of a number of other pulmonary diseases. |
| FEV1 | Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second. Reduced FEV1 is associated with obstructive lung disorders. Typically considered "normal" if greater than 80% of predicted, based on age, height, race and gender. |
| FVC | Forced Vital Capacity; the total volume of air forcefully expelled. Reduced FVC is associated with restrictive lung disorders. Typically considered "normal" if greater than 80% of predicted, based on age, height, race and gender. |
| FEV1/FVC | The ratio is a comparison of the volume expelled in the first second to the total volume expelled. A sensitive index for mild airways obstruction. Typically considered "normal" if greater than 90% of predicted, based on age, height, race and gender. |
| The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends the use of spirometry for the diagnosis and management of asthma. The NLHBI provides specific guidelines on the diagnosis and management of asthma using office spirometry. |
| http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm |
| The National Lung Health Education Program (NLHEP) recommends the use of office spirometry for lung health assessment in adults. The goal of the NLHEP is the early detection of COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States, half of which are undiagnosed. It kills over 104,000 people annually and is the fourth leading and fastest growing cause of death in the United States. Only spirometry can detect the onset of COPD years before symptoms develop. |
| Spirometry is also useful for diagnosing and monitoring other lung impairments such as interstitial fibrosis, congestive heart failure with pulmonary edema, pneumonia and tuberculosis. |
For More Information about Spirometry visit The National Lung Health Education Program (NLHEP) site: http://www.nlhep.org/