About this topic
Your doctor may ask you to do deep breathing exercises to help your lungs. An incentive spirometer is a tool that helps you take deep breaths. It measures how deep your breaths are. You may need to exercise your lungs if you: ‚
- Have problems with your lungs
- Just had surgery
- Are on bedrest
General
- Sit up as straight as you can. You may sit in a chair or in your bed.
- Hold the spirometer in an upright position.
- Place the indicator on the level you need. This is your goal as to how deep of breaths you will take.
- Breathe out normally. Place the mouthpiece into your mouth and tightly seal your lips around it.
- Breathe in slowly and deeply through your mouth. Breathe in as long as you can. This will make the indicator rise. Try to raise the indicator as high as you can to reach your goal.
- When you cannot breathe in any longer, hold your breath for at least 2 to 5 seconds.
- Remove the mouthpiece from your mouth. Then, breathe out slowly.
- Rest for a few seconds and breathe normally. The indicator will return to the bottom. Then, repeat the above steps as many times as ordered by your doctor.
- Once you are done, try to cough a few times. This will help remove fluid in your lungs and keep your lungs clear.
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When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, more sputum or change in color of sputum, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Upset stomach or throwing up
- Shortness of breath
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚