Spirometry

Spirometry is a common breathing test that measures how much air you can move in and out of your lungs and how fast you can do it. You breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a machine called a spirometer, usually taking a deep breath and then blowing out as hard and long as you can. The results show whether your lungs are working normally and can reveal whether a problem is more about airflow blockage or reduced lung capacity.

Origin

From the Latin spirare, "to breathe," and the Greek metron, "measure." The modern spirometer traces to John Hutchinson's 1846 device for measuring "vital capacity," and the test became a standard clinical tool during the twentieth century.

Significance in Asbestos Context

Spirometry is one of the first tests used to check for lung damage in people exposed to asbestos, and it often shows a "restrictive" pattern in asbestosis, where scarring makes the lungs stiffer and reduces the volume of air they hold. The numbers, such as FVC and FEV1, help doctors track whether your breathing is getting worse over time. Because spirometry measures function rather than showing the lungs directly, it's usually paired with imaging like a chest X-ray or CT scan. Spirometry results recorded over the years can also become important evidence of how asbestos disease has affected your breathing and daily life.

Example Sentence

His spirometry showed a restrictive pattern consistent with the scarring seen on his CT scan, supporting the diagnosis of asbestosis.

Related Terms

Pulmonary Function Test, FVC, FEV1, Asbestosis, Restrictive Lung Disease, Diffusing Capacity

Notes

• Ask for copies of every spirometry report; a series over time shows the trend better than a single test.
• Ask whether your test used post-bronchodilator values, which help separate asbestos scarring from asthma or COPD.
• Preserve older pulmonary function results, since they establish a baseline for measuring decline.