Spirometry is a test which measures the speed at which your lungs can be filled and emptied of air. It can be used to diagnose lung problems and monitor the usefulness of treatment.

In order to do spirometry, you take a deep breath in and blow out as hard as you can into a hollow tube attached to a spirometer machine for 6 seconds. You will be asked to do the test at least 3 times. The whole process takes 10 -15 minutes. You may be given some inhaled medicine and asked to repeat to repeat the test to monitor if there is an improvement.