Lung Plethysmography: A Non-Invasive Test for Lung Capacity and Blood Flow
Lung plethysmography, a non-invasive test, is used to measure lung capacity. It involves sitting in an airtight room, breathing against a mouthpiece while nostrils are closed. The procedure helps diagnose various lung conditions and blood flow issues in arms or legs.
Before the test, avoid smoking and aerobic exercise for eight hours and eat lightly. During the test, changes in volume are measured using blood pressure cuffs or sensors attached to a plethysmograph. An abnormal result indicates a problem with lung capacity, which could be due to obstructive lung diseases like asthma or COPD, restrictive lung diseases such as sarcoidosis or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, air trapping, pulmonary hyperinflation, or technical errors. Plethysmography is also effective in detecting blood clots in arms or legs by measuring changes caused by blood flow.
For limb plethysmography, blood pressure cuffs are placed on the leg and arm to measure systolic blood pressure. A normal ankle-brachial index (ABI) falls between 0.90 and 1.30. An abnormal result may indicate a potential narrow or blocked artery.
Lung plethysmography is a valuable tool in diagnosing lung capacity issues and blood flow problems. It requires simple preparation and is generally well-tolerated. Abnormal results should be discussed with a healthcare provider for further evaluation and appropriate management.
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