Lung plethysmography

Definition

Lung plethysmography is a test used to measure how much air you can hold in your lungs.

See also:

• Limb plethysmography
• Plethysmography

Alternative Names

Pulmonary plethysmography; Static lung volume determination; Whole-body plethysmography

Why the Lung plethysmography is Performed

The test is done to see how well your lungs work. It can help your doctor determine if a lung problem is due to narrowing of the airways or a loss of the lungs' ability to expand (get bigger as air flows in).

The test can also be used to see how well you respond to certain medications that open the airways (such as bronchodilators).

How the Lung plethysmography is Performed

You will sit in a small, airtight room known as a body box. You will breathe or pant against a mouthpiece. Clips will be put on your nose to shut off your nostrils. Depending on the information your doctor is looking for, the mouthpiece may be open at first, and then closed.

You will be breathing against the mouthpiece in both the open and closed positions - they give different information to the doctors. As your chest moves while you breathe or pant, it changes the pressure and amount of air in the room and against the mouthpiece. From these changes, the doctor can get an accurate measure of the amount of air in your lungs.

Depending on the purpose of the test, you may be given some medication before the test.

How to Prepare for the Lung plethysmography

Let your doctor know if you are taking any medications, especially ones for breathing problems. You may have to temporarily stop taking certain medications before the test.

Wear loose clothes that allow you to breathe comfortably.

Avoid smoking and heavy exercise for 6 hours before the test.

Avoid heavy meals before the test - they can affect your ability to take deep breaths.

How the Lung plethysmography Will Feel

The test involves rapid and normal breathing, and should not be painful. However, you may feel short of breath or lightheaded. You will be monitored at all times by a technician.

The mouthpiece may feel uncomfortable against your mouth.

Risks

• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath

Normal Results

Normal values are based upon the age, height, ethnicity, and sex of the person being tested. Normal results are expressed as a percentage.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results point to a problem in the lungs, either due to narrowing or blocking of the airways, or because the lungs are unable to expand. Lung plethysmography will not find the cause of the problem, but rather will help the doctor narrow down the list of possible problems.

Email to a Friend

Typical mistypes for Lung plethysmography
kung plethysmography, pung plethysmography, oung plethysmography, lyng plethysmography, lhng plethysmography, ljng plethysmography, ling plethysmography, l8ng plethysmography, l7ng plethysmography, lubg plethysmography, lumg plethysmography, lujg plethysmography, luhg plethysmography, lunf plethysmography, lunv plethysmography, lunb plethysmography, lunh plethysmography, luny plethysmography, lunt plethysmography, lung olethysmography, lung llethysmography, lung -lethysmography, lung 0lethysmography, lung pkethysmography, lung ppethysmography, lung poethysmography, lung plwthysmography, lung plsthysmography, lung pldthysmography, lung plrthysmography, lung pl4thysmography, lung pl3thysmography, lung plerhysmography, lung plefhysmography, lung pleghysmography, lung pleyhysmography, lung ple6hysmography, lung ple5hysmography, lung pletgysmography, lung pletbysmography, lung pletnysmography, lung pletjysmography, lung pletuysmography, lung pletyysmography, lung plethtsmography, lung plethgsmography, lung plethhsmography, lung plethusmography, lung pleth7smography, lung pleth6smography, lung plethyamography, lung plethyzmography, lung plethyxmography, lung plethydmography, lung plethyemography, lung plethywmography, lung plethysnography, lung plethyskography, lung plethysjography, lung plethysmigraphy, lung plethysmkgraphy, lung plethysmlgraphy, lung plethysmpgraphy, lung plethysm0graphy, lung plethysm9graphy, lung plethysmofraphy, lung plethysmovraphy, lung plethysmobraphy, lung plethysmohraphy, lung plethysmoyraphy, lung plethysmotraphy, lung plethysmogeaphy, lung plethysmogdaphy, lung plethysmogfaphy, lung plethysmogtaphy, lung plethysmog5aphy, lung plethysmog4aphy, lung plethysmogrzphy, lung plethysmogrsphy, lung plethysmogrwphy, lung plethysmogrqphy, lung plethysmograohy, lung plethysmogralhy, lung plethysmogra-hy, lung plethysmogra0hy, lung plethysmograpgy, lung plethysmograpby, lung plethysmograpny, lung plethysmograpjy, lung plethysmograpuy, lung plethysmograpyy, lung plethysmographt, lung plethysmographg, lung plethysmographh, lung plethysmographu, lung plethysmograph7, lung plethysmograph6, ung plethysmography, lng plethysmography, lug plethysmography, lun plethysmography, lungplethysmography, lung lethysmography, lung pethysmography, lung plthysmography, lung plehysmography, lung pletysmography, lung plethsmography, lung plethymography, lung plethysography, lung plethysmgraphy, lung plethysmoraphy, lung plethysmogaphy, lung plethysmogrphy, lung plethysmograhy, lung plethysmograpy, lung plethysmograph, ulng plethysmography, lnug plethysmography, lugn plethysmography, lun gplethysmography, lungp lethysmography, lung lpethysmography, lung pelthysmography, lung pltehysmography, lung plehtysmography, lung pletyhsmography, lung plethsymography, lung plethymsography, lung plethysomgraphy, lung plethysmgoraphy, lung plethysmorgaphy, lung plethysmogarphy, lung plethysmogrpahy, lung plethysmograhpy, lung plethysmograpyh, llung plethysmography, luung plethysmography, lunng plethysmography, lungg plethysmography, lung plethysmography, lung pplethysmography, lung pllethysmography, lung pleethysmography, lung pletthysmography, lung plethhysmography, lung plethyysmography, lung plethyssmography, lung plethysmmography, lung plethysmoography, lung plethysmoggraphy, lung plethysmogrraphy, lung plethysmograaphy, lung plethysmograpphy, lung plethysmographhy, lung plethysmographyy, etc.