After lung surgery, you will be sent home with a spirometer breathing device. A spirometer, or incentive spirometer, is a small, handheld device consisting of only a few parts. There is a piston below a yellow indicator, a mouthpiece connected to...
A spirometer measures lung capacity and other breathing conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, a spirometry test is commonly used in a doctor's office or hospital as an aid to measure the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease...
A spirometer is a basic type of medical testing equipment that is used to measure and analyze lung functions. The simple plastic device measures how much air the lungs can hold and how well the patient can move air in and out of them. People who...
To keep your lungs healthy, all you need to do is take a deep breath and hold it for three to five seconds or simply yawn and sigh occasionally. After having chest, back or abdominal surgery or general anesthesia, patients find these basic...
A Volumetric Exerciser, or spirometer, is a post-operative recovery apparatus used most commonly after major abdominal and chest surgery to restore and strengthen lung functioning. The apparatus trains the lungs to increase inspiratory volume...
Triflow is the name given to a type of spirometer, or breathing device used to help rehabilitate the lungs. Known as an incentive spirometer, the device is used by patients following many types of surgery, as well as those diagnosed with breathing...
Atelectasis, which is a partial or total collapse of the lung, is one of the many post-operative complications of various types of surgery. Operations requiring anesthesia, orthopedic surgery performed in high-altitude locations and surgery that...
The lungs secrete mucus to trap small particles and germs. Hair-like projections in the airways and coughing clear lung mucus in healthy patients. Certain medical conditions and diseases cause an accumulation of lung mucus that may interfere with...
Your doctor will have to rule out a wide range of possible causes of your breathing difficulties, so you'll need to provide full disclosure of your or your child's medical history. The most common signs and symptoms of asthma are shared by other...
Emphysema falls under the general category of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema is a chronic condition that occurs when the air sacs in your lungs become damaged. This restricts the amount of oxygen that can get to your...
If you've been diagnosed with pneumonia or any type of lung disorder, you may find it difficult to breath. For this reason, lung or oxygen therapy may be suggested by your doctor. A respiratory therapist will guide you through the exercises and...
If you have been a regular smoker, chances are that your lungs have been scarred. Because of the scarring, your breathing will be weakened and the oxygen content that your body receives will be reduced. There are a variety of natural options that...
Deep-breathing exercisers or devices that improve lung function can also measure lung capacity. Not all lung exercisers have a scientific measurement tool, but many employ ways to measure your progress. To improve lung capacity, you can choose to...
Scoliosis is spinal condition that typically affects children and can lead to chronic back pain, uneven shoulders and improper lung function. Doctors often include deep breathing exercises as a component of scoliosis therapy in order to promote...
Collapsed lung is a collective term used to describe two separate conditions, pneumothorax and atelectasis, that trigger partial or total deflation of your lung's oxygen-carrying structures. If you have an atelectasis, deflation occurs in the tiny...
Pleural effusion is a medical term that means an excess amount of fluid between the two outside layers of the lungs, called pleura. One layer lies on the surface of the lungs while the other lines the chest wall. A variety of conditions may cause...
Scoliosis is a condition that causes your spine to curve in an "S" shape. While spines have natural curves, those with scoliosis have an exaggerated curve that can lead to body twisting, pain, and decreased heart and lung function, according to...
After heart surgery, pneumonia or injuries involving fractured ribs, it is not uncommon for lung capacity to be impaired. To recover and maintain proper lung function, physiotherapy breathing exercises may be implemented. Techniques like...
After surgery, it is important to clear mucus from your lungs. A buildup of secretions can cause pneumonia. According to Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado, anything that makes your breathing difficult can lead to problems. Deep breathing...
Mechanical ventilators are devices that move air in and out of your lungs if you are unable to breathe on your own. A ventilator may help to keep you alive during recovery from illness, injury or surgery, but extended use carries some risks....
Lung surgery may be administered to patients suffering from chronic lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, as well as lung injuries such as a collapsed lung. After lung surgery, pulmonary rehabilitation programs...
Bowel or colon surgery is one treatment option for people diagnosed with bowel cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, surgeries range from simple procedures to remove polyps or major surgery to remove larger tumors and sections of the...
Pneumonia is a serious illness that occurs due to an infection in the lungs. It can cause a fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, a cough and trouble breathing. In some cases this condition clears up in a few weeks with home treatment. However in...
Asthma is a disease that involves inflammation of the airways. It leads to symptoms like difficulty breathing, coughing and wheezing. Pulmonary function tests are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of asthma. Some of these tests involve breath...
Lap band surgery, technically known as laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, is a surgical procedure designed to help people lose weight. People who are quite obese and have been unable to lose weight by other means are generally considered...
Recovering from heart surgery can take weeks or months depending on your health condition. But learning how you can help prevent complications after leaving the hospital is critical to your recovery. By practicing simple breathing exercises at...
That isn't always the easiest thing to do for children who suffer from asthma. It can be one of the signs that something isn't quite right. Asthma is a condition that causes the lungs to become inflamed, to swell and for the airways to become...
Aspiration is a condition in which foreign substances, such as food, secretions from the mouth or a foreign object, enters the lungs. For most people, the cough reflex prevents this from occurring. Many of us have experienced this if we take a sip...
Deep breathing exercises help you recover from and overcome the affects of anesthesia following surgery. Lying down for prolonged periods of time also causes fluid to accumulate in your lungs. Deep breathing exercises performed after surgery help...
