Any respiratory therapists out there? Spirometry

[ThisIsMe]

Ok, so, this is something I've been concerned about, and I wanted to see if I could get some clarification.

I work in an industry where, occasionally, I have to wear a half mask respirator. Because of this, as part of my physical, I have to take a spirometry test.

For those that dont know what spirometry is, it is a functional lung capacity test.

The procedure for this test is:

Take a deep breath

Put your mouth on the measuring device. This device is about 1" in diameter, so that means there is no back pressure, you have no resistance when blowing out.

You then blow as hard as you can, expelling all of your air within the first second, then you have to keep pushing air out, even when at the bottom of your lungs for several seconds, until you reach the line on the graph, and they tell you to stop.

For me, this test is painful, because I am straining, pushing so hard, my eyes start to buldge, I start to sweat, and I get a severe headache, and end up light headed.

This test has to be repeated 3 times.

To me, this test seems to be very dangerous, as it doesnt seem safe to be exerting that much force and pressure on your body, and head. On my last trip to the clinic, the nurse even said they have people do this sitting down in case you pass out. Really??? That should tell you something is wrong right there, but they assure you it is safe, otherwise, they wouldnt have people do it.

Here is my issue. Aside from the pain involved, as explained, from what I understand, not everyone's lung capacity is the same. I don't ever recall ever taking a baseline measurement. The very first time I did it, I had to do it long enough to reach the line on the graph. How did they determine that that was the level i was supposed to reach? Is there some predetermined level that says for your age and height, X is the normal level one is expected to meet? Again, not everyone has the same capacity and trying to force someone to achieve a level that is beyond their normal capacity seems wrong. There should be a baseline measurement that needs to be done to determine your personal level, then each time you do it from there, your capacity could be measured and compared.

I sometimes wonder if these people are administering this test incorrectly, because, again, someone forcing their body so hard by straining that you end up with a severe headache, eyes bulging out of your head, forcing tears out of your eyes, sweating, and light headedness, doesnt seem natural nor safe.


I have watched videos of people taking this test, and while they say it is uncomfortable, none of them are straining nearly as hard I I am, which makes me wonder, again, if the nurses are administering this test incorrectly.

Thoughts?

 

[BULLDOG]

That test is your baseline. If you sue them for screwing up your lungs later, they can point at your test and say "see, his lungs were already screwed up". They don't care about your lung capacity anyway. They care about not having to pay insurance claims.

 

[ThisIsMe]

That test is your baseline. If you sue them for screwing up your lungs later, they can point at your test and say "see, his lungs were already screwed up". They don't care about your lung capacity anyway. They care about not having to pay insurance claims.

That's just it, there was never a time when they said "start blowing and then stop when you are out of breath, and that will be your baseline". It was always, they input your age, race, height and gender, and it spits out a "this is what you should achieve" for that criteria, and you are expected to meet that goal.

So, let's say, for example, if you were a white Male, age 40, and 5 foot 10, that everyone who has those statistics should have the same lung capacity? I wouldnt think so.

Again, when I do this test, it is a struggle. I'm pushing so hard that I end up shaking, face goes beat red, eyes bulging, tears start coming out, and then when I stop and take a breath, I get a massive headache. The nurse is standing there watching this all happen, and says that it is safe. I just dont agree. It seems very unsafe to be putting that much pressure on your body, and head. It seems you could end up rupturing blood vessels or causing some other kind of damage with that kind of exertion.

 

[BULLDOG]

That test is your baseline. If you sue them for screwing up your lungs later, they can point at your test and say "see, his lungs were already screwed up". They don't care about your lung capacity anyway. They care about not having to pay insurance claims.

That's just it, there was never a time when they said "start blowing and then stop when you are out of breath, and that will be your baseline". It was always, they input your age, race, height and gender, and it spits out a "this is what you should achieve" for that criteria, and you are expected to meet that goal.

So, let's say, for example, if you were a white Male, age 40, and 5 foot 10, that everyone who has those statistics should have the same lung capacity? I wouldnt think so.

Again, when I do this test, it is a struggle. I'm pushing so hard that I end up shaking, face goes beat red, eyes bulging, tears start coming out, and then when I stop and take a breath, I get a massive headache. The nurse is standing there watching this all happen, and says that it is safe. I just dont agree. It seems very unsafe to be putting that much pressure on your body, and head. It seems you could end up rupturing blood vessels or causing some other kind of damage with that kind of exertion.

Chances are that it isn't a nurse anyway. Probably just someone they hired, and told them they were a lab technician. Might have been flipping burgers last week. Bottom line, You gotta do the test their way to get the job. The next person in line won't ask any questions, and they will get the job.