An Introduction of Incentive Spirometer

There are many medical devices which are used to improve people's life quality. In this article, I will introduce one kind of them.

1. What is the incentive spirometer?

An incentive spirometer is a device used by a patient in a hospital. This medical device is small, portable and simple to use. It has a mouthpiece, which is attached to a six or eight inch piece of tubing. When the inhalation takes place, a piston rises, which can indicate the volume of air inhaled. In addition, most incentive spirometers have a coach indicator, which is a small ball that moves during inhalation, to indicate whether the inhalation is slow.

2. What benefits does the device have?

The device can benefit patients a lot. On one hand, it assists in detecting any respiratory problems that may occur after surgery or in conjunction with lung blood clots. The device is indispensable for patients who are suffering from a clot, because such patients can't breathe completely by themselves. Moreover, patients can't move after surgery, so it is hard to keep their lungs clear and healthy. With incentive spirometer, the problem can be released to some extent, correspondingly reducing the risks of respiratory problems. On the other hand, the device enables a person to exercise his or her lung, which helps the patients to take slow deep breaths and provides them more oxygen. It can increase patients' breathing capacity and enable them to breathe easily. In this case, patients and nurses can see how well medication is working.

3. How to use it?

You should make sure that you sit in an upright position with your back as straight as possible before using the device. Then place your lips tightly around the mouthpiece of the device. It is really important to guarantee that your lips are sealed around the mouthpiece very tightly, because only in this way can the device accurately indicate the situation of your lung. Next, breathe in as slowly as possible and hold your breath for at least five seconds before exhaling. The longer you hold your breath, the better the result is. When you find that you can't hold the breath anymore, it is time to exhale. Take a rest after the above process and repeat it according to your physician's order. This exercise should be done several times a day when you are awake, which is beneficial to your lung.

Now you have some basic knowledge about this device. Look for more information, which will help you to use it in a proper way.