What is a Spirometer and How Is It Useful?

Spirometry is an important clinical tool used to measure and test an individual’s pulmonary function. Essentially, spirometry is a test used to determine how well a person's lungs are working. It does this by measuring how much, and how quickly an individual is able to exhale air from their lungs. Spirometry is often used to diagnose and monitor those with chronic respiratory conditions – a couple of the most common conditions being, asthma, and COPD (Mayo Clinic). However, spirometry can be used to monitor and measure a variety of other conditions that may also affect an individual’s ability to breath properly.

With SpiroLink, users can record their breathing data at home, and then present any reports to their physician for further professional review. This is especially beneficial to those with chronic breathing disorders that need to monitor pulmonary function and the effectiveness of daily breathing treatments.

Why SpiroLink?

SpiroLink Digital At-Home Spirometer is an FDA cleared, portable pulmonary function monitor for clinics, nursing facilities, and homes for daily testing. SpiroLink’s Bluetooth capabilities allow a user to easily track and manage their spirometry data. It is especially well suited for daily measurement and management of lung health for a variety of users including those with asthma, COPD, musicians, athletes, smokers, and more.

The device is rechargeable and uses a micro-USB port. The innovative pressure sensor design helps protect the device from debris and mucus. This makes the spirometer easier to clean and also increases the device’s lifespan. Most digital spirometers currently on the market, utilize a turbine system, leaving them susceptible to debris and wear, especially with repeated use.

The pressure sensor design of SpiroLink coupled with an optional mouth filter can significantly extend the lifespan of the device, even with repeated, daily use.

How Does SpiroLink Compare to Other Spirometers on the Market?

Benefits of SpiroLink

Easy to use app available for iOS and Android! 

Though SpiroLink can work entirely on its own, it is equipped with Bluetooth capabilities that allow it to connect to the SpiroLink app. The app allows users to track and manage their breathing treatments and lung health. Read below to learn more about the benefits:

1. SpiroLink is FDA cleared for over-the-counter use. You can trust the measurements and your healthcare professionals can prescribe treatments based on the results from the device.
2. SpiroLink measures Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) using a pressure sensor. This innovative technology makes SpiroLink less susceptible to damages from debris, dirt, or mucus that may be blown into the spirometer during use, giving the device greater durability and a longer lifespan. 
3. SpiroLink is equipped with Bluetooth that allows it to connect to the SpiroLink app available for iOS and Android. You do not need to carry a journal to write down your results and manually calculate key metrics such as FEV1/FVC for your lung health. The App can also generate reports that you can share with your physician.
4. If you do not have access to a smart phone, you can still use SpiroLink thanks to its 4’’ easy-read LCD display.
5. SpiroLink’s rechargeable battery lasts 30 days when idle, 6 days when used 3 times per day.
6. Optional filters available for use with SpiroLink. The pressure sensor design of SpiroLink coupled with an optional mouth filter can significantly extend the lifespan of the device, even with repeated, daily use.

Benefits of Spirometry for Asthma, COPD, and
COVID-19 Patients

Spirometry is a versatile and effective tool for tracking and monitoring the progress of lung disease and medication efficacy. Asthma and COPD are chronic lung conditions that should be consistently evaluated. Without monitoring these conditions, it is difficult to assess the progress of the disease or the effectiveness of breathing treatments.

At-home spirometry with SpiroLink allows users to actively track and record their lung health from the comfort of home. Downloadable reports from SpiroLink’s mobile app can then be saved and easily shared with physicians for further assessment. Spirometry is unique in its ability to diagnose and monitor patient lung health and it is becoming a widespread homecare management system.

Spirometry and Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that results in airway swelling and excess mucus (Mayo Clinic, 2021). There are a number of risk factors associated with the disease that can lead to more serious complications if not monitored and treated properly. Common symptoms of Asthma include wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and breathlessness.

In the case of an asthma attack, persons diagnosed with the disease can experience extreme inflammation that may lead to hospitalization. Oral medications may vary in effectiveness and should be evaluated often. At-home Spirometry allows for users to monitor their condition on a daily basis. Consistent evaluation and physician diagnosis can help to prevent the condition from worsening overtime.

According to two Cleveland Clinic doctors, “Spirometry provides an objective measure of obstruction, which adds to the reliability of the diagnosis. Therefore, it should be done in all patients in whom asthma is suspected.”

Spirometry and COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is another type of chronic lung condition that can lead to airflow obstruction and long term breathing difficulty (Mayo Clinic, 2021). Those diagnosed with COPD are at an increased risk of developing more serious health conditions such as lung cancer and heart disease (Mayo Clinic). COPD can often present as chronic bronchitis (inflammation of bronchial tubes) or emphysema (destroyed alveoli of the lungs), which may vary in severity. With SpiroLink, users can record their breathing data and present it to their physician for further professional review.

Smoking is a leading contributor to COPD. Spirometry can help users Monitor chronic COPD and identify worsening symptoms which can then be further diagnosed by a physician. Early recognition of detrimental symptoms can lead to faster diagnosis and treatment, resulting in a decrease of long-term severity. 

Spirometry and Covid-19

Utilizing Spirometry both during and after infection with COVID-19 can improve patient well being and understanding of their lung health. Those diagnosed with COVID should monitor their lungs as this may help to better understand their condition while also promoting deeper breathing. Deep breathing has been known to improve lung function and may result in diagnosing more serious lung complications earlier on. Early treatment of COVID-19 associated symptoms may lead to early preventative measures that better the outcome of a patient’s infection. During infection, users may experience pneumonia, and in severe cases, Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Catching symptoms early will likely improve overall treatment of such complications. Digital Spirometers like SpiroLink are capable of providing critical respiratory health data from the comfort of the user’s home.

COVID-19 is capable of causing lasting damage to the walls of your lungs (John Hopkins, 2020). For this reason, monitoring lung health continuously after infection will allow users to gain further insight into their post-COVID condition. This includes monitoring possible lung damage and the efficacy of respiratory medications. With SpiroLink, users have access to key lung health ratios including PEF, FEV1, and FVC. For more information on what these values mean, see our post on Understanding the Basics of Spirometry. 

Interested in At-Home Spirometry? Check out SpiroLink, now available on our website!