In our clinic lung function testing is performed with a spirometer.You are requested to blow into a gadget.
Different parameters can be determined.
The most important ones are:
The Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): How many liters can be exhaled.
The Forced Expiraory Volume in one second (FEV1):
how many liters are exhaled within the first second after starting exhaling.
This is abnormal in COPD: asthma, chronic bronchitis, emfysema, etc.
The Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF): the maximum amount of liters air which are exhaled per minute.
The ratio FEV1 / FVC: – This ratio is lowered in chronic obstructive lung disease
– This ratio is normal or even elevated in restrictive lung disease
