Patient education: How to use an incentive spirometer (The Basics)

What is an incentive spirometer? — An incentive spirometer is a handheld tool that helps you take slow, deep breaths. It can be used to help keep your lungs strong and working well.

Your doctor or nurse might want you to use an incentive spirometer if you:

●Just had surgery

●Are on bedrest

●Have a lung infection, like pneumonia

●Have a broken rib

●Have COPD, cystic fibrosis, asthma, or another chronic lung condition

Most incentive spirometers have the following parts (figure 1):

●Mouthpiece

●Ball that shows how quickly you are breathing

●Piston that shows how deep a breath you are taking

●Marker (or slider) that shows how deep a breath you should try to take

How do I use an incentive spirometer? — Your device will come with specific instructions. Make sure that you understand how to use it.

Some general instructions:

●Sit up as straight as you can in a chair or on a bed.

●Hold the spirometer in an upright position in your hands.

●Place the marker on the level that your doctor or nurse suggests. This is your goal for how deeply to breathe in.

●Breathe out normally. Place the mouthpiece into your mouth, and tightly seal your lips around it.

●Breathe in slowly and deeply. Make sure that you are breathing through your mouth, not your nose. The ball (or "indicator") in the small chamber on the side of the spirometer will rise up depending on how fast you breathe in. Try to keep the indicator between the 2 markers. If you breathe too fast, the indicator will go too high.

●Breathe in as long as you can. The piston in the larger chamber will rise to show how much air you have breathed in. Try to raise the piston to reach your goal. If you are having trouble reaching your goal, make sure that your lips are sealed fully around the mouthpiece. Try thinking about sucking up the last bit of milkshake with a straw when breathing in. Sometimes, breathing more slowly will help you take in more air.

●When you cannot breathe in any more, hold your breath for at least 5 seconds or as long as you can.

●Remove the mouthpiece from your mouth. Then, breathe out slowly.

●Rest for a few seconds, and breathe normally. The piston and indicator will return to the bottom.

●If you are having pain, take pain medicine before using the incentive spirometer.

●Repeat the above steps as many times as your doctor or nurse instructed. Most often, they will want you to do this breathing exercise 10 times every 1 to 2 hours while you are awake. If you feel dizzy at any time, stop and rest.

●Once you are done, take a deep breath and cough to clear sputum from your lungs. (Sputum is a mixture of saliva and mucus that you cough up.) If you had surgery on your chest or belly, hold a pillow firmly over your cut (incision) when you cough.

Your goal for the next set of 10 breaths will be at the level the piston reached on the spirometer. Move the marker to this number for the next set. You can record your score each time you use your spirometer and track your progress over time.

Keep using the incentive spirometer until your doctor or nurse says that it is OK to stop. Sometimes, you will only need to use it while you are in the hospital. Other times, you might need to continue using it at home.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●You have signs of an infection – These include a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher or chills, a cough, or more sputum or a change in color of sputum.

●You have a hard time breathing, or you feel weak, dizzy, or faint.

●You feel like your heart is pounding or beating very fast.

●You have any other symptoms that worry you.

●You are consistently not able to meet the goal set for you on your incentive spirometer.

More on this topic

Patient education: Atelectasis (The Basics)
Patient education: Bronchiectasis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Bronchiectasis in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Pneumonia in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Pneumonia in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Rib fractures in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Deep breathing and coughing after surgery (The Basics)

Patient education: Pneumonia in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Pneumonia prevention in adults (Beyond the Basics)