Spirometry
EAST CENTRAL PCN: Respiratory Hub on behalf of the following practices:
West Green Surgery
Hornsey Park Surgery
The Old Surgery
The Staunton Group Practice
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR BLUE INHALER TO THE APPOINTMENT AS THIS WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE TEST
Your GP practice has requested that you have a spirometry test which is a simple painless test of your lungs and how you breathe.
The test involves blowing out hard into a tube and to check this is safe for you to do please look at the following list and let your GP know if any apply to you as the spirometry test may need to be delayed if so.
Check list of reasons to delay spirometry:
Any surgery in the last 6 weeks (on either the eye, abdomen or groin or chest or brain)
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) in the last 6 weeks
Angina pain requiring use of a GTN spray
Blood clot in the lungs or pulmonary embolus in the previous 6 weeks
Pneumothorax in the previous 6 weeks
Stroke in the previous 6 weeks
Any nausea or vomiting in the previous 2 days
Middle ear infection in the past two weeks
Aortic aneurysm under surveillance- please inform the team. If > 6cm avoid spirometry
Are you being investigated or treated for tuberculosis TB
On the day of testing please avoid the following:
Smoking before testing on the day your spirometry is booked
Consuming alcohol for at least four hours prior to the test
Eating a substantial meal for at least 2 hours prior to the test
Vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes prior to the test
Wearing tight clothing that may restrict full chest and abdominal expansion
Some of your inhalers should not be used before the spirometry appointment
Salbutamol (blue inhaler) do not use for 4 hours before the test
Atrovent- do not use for 12 hours before the test
Salmeterol or formoterol- do not use for 24 hours before the test
Tiotropium- do not use for two days before the test
Combination inhalers containing two or more medicines- stop 1-2 days before testing
If you are taking a steroid/corticosteroid inhaler which does not contain other medicines you can continue this as usual.