What Is Spirometry?
Spirometry tests measure how well your lungs work. It can help detect conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
These lung issues can be caused by workplace exposure to risks such as glues and resins, grain dust, wood dust, and laboratory animals.
It is one of the most common tests offered during occupational health surveillance.
During the test, you’ll breathe into a device called a spirometer, which records these measurements. The results help your healthcare provider determine how well your lungs are functioning and if there are any signs of lung disease or restriction.
But what happens after you take the test? Let us guide you through how to interpret your spirometry test results and what they mean for your lung health.
How to Interpret Spirometry Test Results for Lung Health
A spirometry test measures two key aspects of lung function:
- The amount of air you can exhale (volume)
- How quickly you can exhale that air (flow rate)
Key Spirometry Measurements:
When looking at your spirometry results, you’ll come across terms like FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC ratio. These are the core components of the test:
- FVC (Forced Vital Capacity): This is the total amount of air you can forcibly exhale after taking a deep breath. A lower-than-normal FVC can suggest restricted lung capacity or stiffness, often associated with conditions like pulmonary fibrosis.
- FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second): This measures the amount of air you can force out in the first second of exhaling. A low FEV1 can indicate an obstruction in your airways, commonly seen in asthma or COPD.
- FEV1/FVC Ratio: This ratio compares the two values above. A lower ratio may suggest obstructive lung disease, where exhaling is difficult due to narrowed airways.
What Do Abnormal Spirometry Results Mean?
- Obstructive Lung Disease: If your FEV1/FVC ratio is below normal, it may indicate an obstructive lung condition like COPD or asthma. These conditions limit airflow and make it harder to breathe out quickly.
- Restrictive Lung Disease: If both FVC and FEV1 are low but the ratio remains normal, you may have a restrictive lung disease. This means your lungs are unable to expand fully, often due to fibrosis, chest wall deformities, or obesity.
Understanding Predicted Values
Spirometry results are compared to predicted values based on factors like age, gender, height, and ethnicity. The percentage of the predicted value helps assess the severity of the impairment:
- 80% or above: Normal lung function
- 50-79%: Mild to moderate impairment
- Below 50%: Severe impairment
Your doctor will use these numbers to guide treatment plans, whether it’s prescribing medications, recommending lifestyle changes, or referring you to a specialist for further evaluation.
Why Accurate Interpretation Matters
At Valentine Occupational Health, we believe that early detection and accurate diagnosis are key to maintaining a healthy workforce. Interpreting spirometry results correctly ensures that individuals receive the right care, helping prevent the progression of lung conditions that can lead to long-term health issues.
Next Steps: What to Do After Your Spirometry Test
If your results suggest abnormal lung function, don’t panic. Many conditions can be managed effectively with the right treatment. Your healthcare provider will discuss your results in detail and work with you to develop a tailored plan to improve your lung health.
Why is this included in Health Surveillance?
Health Surveillance and staying up to date with legislation can be a minefield for organisations. The challenge to understand what type of assessment is required, how often employees should be assessed, and – of your employees – who is affected. Valentine OH recommend an Occupational Health needs assessment to help our clients understand
what they should be doing.
In turn, this will help in complying with HSE requirements and the routine monitoring of employees health. Through this specified surveillance you will not only be meeting health and safety legislation but also targeting the early signs of work related ill health and any health hazards affecting employees.
At Valentine we can arrange many Health Surveillance screens including:
- Hand Arm Vibration Screening (HAVS)
- Audiometry (Hearing Test)
- Spirometry (Lung function Test)
- Skin Surveillance
We’re committed to providing clear, reliable health information and tests that help both employees and employers maintain a healthy, productive workforce. Our spirometry tests are part of our comprehensive occupational health services designed to keep your team breathing easy.
If you have any questions about spirometry or your lung health, feel free to reach out to us. Our expert team is here to help.
