Functional lung capacity test..dangerous?

[ThisIsMe]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

 

[Harry Dresden]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

 

[irosie91]

it's safe. they may have asked you to repeat it because they
thought that your EFFORT was insufficient for accurate readings----
the measurement is VC vital capacity-----that's how much air you
can take IN (inspiration) and then EXHALE (expiration). I think
that the VC is the volume exhaled after deep inspiration----and there is
an issue of TIMING too. ---there is also
a residual thing-----I think-----when they ask you --"oK'---now breathe out
some more. I think-----don't quote me----I learned this stuff more than
40 years ago. Ask an internist------or maybe a chest surgeon. For
search issues da word is SPIROMETRY-----and that machine is a SPIROMETER

 

[Auld Phart]

I've done that test every year for the last 5 years, never had the problems you describe.

(my lung capacity is currently about 33%)

 

[ThisIsMe]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

 

[ThisIsMe]

I've done that test every year for the last 5 years, never had the problems you describe.

(my lung capacity is currently about 33%)

Maybe I'm doing it wrong then. Or maybe they are doing it wrong The way they told me to do it (last 3 years) is, take a deep breath, then with as much force as you can, blow it out and then when you are at the bottom of your lungs, keep forcing the exhalation for about 8 seconds.

To me, it causes eyes to water, all the blood flows to the head, eyes start bulging, then there is a slight cooling feeling, then when you stop and all the blood starts flowing back out, very intense headache like pain for about 20 seconds.

And this has to be done 3 times. They didnt say anything about the test not being done correctly, every time ive done this, it's always 3 times, as if that is the procedure.

 

[Auld Phart]

that's been the procedure I've done

 

[Leo123]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

Singers do this all the time. See how long you can hold a musical note.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

 

[ThisIsMe]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

It has to do with the strain, that's how I understand it anyway.

 

[irosie91]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

believe it or not------physiologically ----the two maneuvers result in very similar
effects ----think VALSALVA------increased parasympathetic tone

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

It has to do with the strain, that's how I understand it anyway.

Meh....they do that after most major surgeries.
I've had 5 over the last 5 years....in my mind they were the pleasant part.
Try recuperating after cancer surgery,back surgery and three hip replacements,then you'll know what a challenge is.
Consider yourself lucky.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

believe it or not------physiologically ----the two maneuvers result in very similar
effects ----think VALSALVA------increased parasympathetic tone

One is far more strenuous involving tightening your core muscles.
The other not so much.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Need some medical advice on this. I can't seem to find any answers on the internet one way or another.

I've had to do this test about 3 times now, and I'm curious about how safe it is. Honestly, I dont feel it is safe at all.

For those who dont know what it is, the nurse has a plastic tube about an inch in diameter connected to a measuring machine. The procedure is to take a deep breath then put your mouth on the tube, you then forcefully exhale all of your breath, and then you have to keep pushing out every last bit of air you can, and you have to keep doing this for about 5 to 8 seconds.

5 to 8 seconds of having to try and keep pushing air out when you have exhausted all your air in the first forceful breath.

Needless to say, you are straining, your eyes start watering, all the blood and pressure goes to your head and your eyes feel like they are about to pop out.

During this process, because you are straining so hard, your head starts to hurt very badly and you get a little light headed as well. The nurse told me they have people do this sitting down just in case people pass out.

This has to be repeated 3 times, or as many as it takes to get the result they are looking for.

Here is my issue, how can the AMA, or any of the other medical boards consider this safe? With that much strain and pressure you are exerting, one would think there is a concern for popping blood vessels or aneurism in the brain.

Does anyone with medical knowledge have any input on this. It seems to me to be a very dangerous test, and there has to be another way of determining lung capacity.

Just curious I guess

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

It has to do with the strain, that's how I understand it anyway.

Meh....they do that after most major surgeries.
I've had 5 over the last 5 years....in my mind they were the pleasant part.
Try recuperating after cancer surgery,back surgery and three hip replacements,then you'll know what a challenge is.
Consider yourself lucky.

3 hip replacements?....holy shit!...

 

[irosie91]

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

It has to do with the strain, that's how I understand it anyway.

Meh....they do that after most major surgeries.
I've had 5 over the last 5 years....in my mind they were the pleasant part.
Try recuperating after cancer surgery,back surgery and three hip replacements,then you'll know what a challenge is.
Consider yourself lucky.

3 hip replacements?....holy shit!...

I never met a person with three hips. ------ ----sadly---sometimes hip surgery
fails-------pins move----replacements act funny----people are not Robocop.

 

[MarathonMike]

It seems that the straining should be in your core not your head. Try to isolate the forcing to your mid section, that is where the residual air is, not up in your head.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

if you dont have any lung or heart problems you should be fine....if not and you are still whining....you are a pussy....

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

It has to do with the strain, that's how I understand it anyway.

Meh....they do that after most major surgeries.
I've had 5 over the last 5 years....in my mind they were the pleasant part.
Try recuperating after cancer surgery,back surgery and three hip replacements,then you'll know what a challenge is.
Consider yourself lucky.

3 hip replacements?....holy shit!...

All on the same leg.
They botched the first one by leaving it an inch longer than the other. I called the surgeon on it and he said it would be just fine...
Two years later the back failed due to the F'd up hip job.
Off to surgery for the back.
Things were fine for awhile and all the pain came back.
Two back surgeons looked at my MRI and said things were fine there.
Off to a specialist on F'd up hip jobs....he assured me that was where my problem lay.
First surgery he only replaced the femur/ball part since the socket was well set. He warned this could lead to dislocations but it was less intrusive and worth the risk and I agreed.
Two weeks and two dislocations later and he went the distance and replaced the socket as well.
What a joyous couple of years.
Three hip replacements,two dislocations and fusing vertebrae 3 and 4.
Still using the walker but the back pain is gone.
He warned me that rehab from the type of surgery I ended up needing was a mofo...and he wasnt kidding.
They cut me to the bone from 8 inches above the knee all the way to my waist band on the lower quarter of my thigh on circumference.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

It has to do with the strain, that's how I understand it anyway.

Meh....they do that after most major surgeries.
I've had 5 over the last 5 years....in my mind they were the pleasant part.
Try recuperating after cancer surgery,back surgery and three hip replacements,then you'll know what a challenge is.
Consider yourself lucky.

3 hip replacements?....holy shit!...

I never met a person with three hips. ------ ----sadly---sometimes hip surgery
fails-------pins move----replacements act funny----people are not Robocop.

Post 17 will clear things up.

 

[Harry Dresden]

I guess you missed the part where I said I was concerned about the possibility of aneurism. I've heard the old stories of people who have been straining on the toilet and had a brain aneurism and died. This would be very similar if not worse than that.

Also, the pain that accompanies it is pretty bad

Since when is pushing out a stubborn turd anything like pushing out a deep breath?

It has to do with the strain, that's how I understand it anyway.

Meh....they do that after most major surgeries.
I've had 5 over the last 5 years....in my mind they were the pleasant part.
Try recuperating after cancer surgery,back surgery and three hip replacements,then you'll know what a challenge is.
Consider yourself lucky.

3 hip replacements?....holy shit!...

All on the same leg.
They botched the first one by leaving it an inch longer than the other. I called the surgeon on it and he said it would be just fine...
Two years later the back failed due to the F'd up hip job.
Off to surgery for the back.
Things were fine for awhile and all the pain came back.
Two back surgeons looked at my MRI and said things were fine there.
Off to a specialist on F'd up hip jobs....he assured me that was where my problem lay.
First surgery he only replaced the femur/ball part since the socket was well set. He warned this could lead to dislocations but it was less intrusive and worth the risk and I agreed.
Two weeks and two dislocations later and he went the distance and replaced the socket as well.
What a joyous couple of years.
Three hip replacements,two dislocations and fusing vertebrae 3 and 4.
Still using the walker but the back pain is gone.
He warned me that rehab from the type of surgery I ended up needing was a mofo...and he wasnt kidding.
They cut me to the bone from 8 inches above the knee all the way to my waist band on the lower quarter of my thigh on circumference.

dam that sucked....

 

[Leo123]

All on the same leg.
They botched the first one by leaving it an inch longer than the other. I called the surgeon on it and he said it would be just fine...
Two years later the back failed due to the F'd up hip job.
Off to surgery for the back.
Things were fine for awhile and all the pain came back.
Two back surgeons looked at my MRI and said things were fine there.
Off to a specialist on F'd up hip jobs....he assured me that was where my problem lay.
First surgery he only replaced the femur/ball part since the socket was well set. He warned this could lead to dislocations but it was less intrusive and worth the risk and I agreed.
Two weeks and two dislocations later and he went the distance and replaced the socket as well.
What a joyous couple of years.
Three hip replacements,two dislocations and fusing vertebrae 3 and 4.
Still using the walker but the back pain is gone.
He warned me that rehab from the type of surgery I ended up needing was a mofo...and he wasnt kidding.
They cut me to the bone from 8 inches above the knee all the way to my waist band on the lower quarter of my thigh on circumference.

Hang in there!! Hope you recover completely.