Like mammograms and colonoscopies, chest screenings are an important part of preventative healthcare. The Temple Healthy Chest Initiative offers convenient, noninvasive ways to check in on your full chest health, and detect conditions like lung cancer early, before symptoms start and when treatment options may be more effective. At Temple, these chest screenings also check for signs of other health conditions — including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
In addition to the low-dose CT (LDCT) scans, chest screenings at Temple now pairs low dose CT scans (LDCT), a quick and easy chest screening, with spirometry tests, a simple breathing test that measures how well your lungs work. By combining these two tests, doctors can help detect serious lung conditions sooner, and offer better treatment options if something is detected - or provide peace of mind if results are clear. Most patients have both tests done in the same appointment.
If your health history puts you at increased risk for lung cancer, you’re likely also at increased risk for COPD — and spirometry screening may be especially valuable. Lung cancer and COPD share common risk factors. In both cases, early detection can make an enormous difference in treatment outcomes and quality of life.
Spirometry is simple — but effective
At the Temple Lung Center, I use spirometry every day. It’s a noninvasive way to monitor my patients’ lung function, see how well a treatment is working, or detect a condition like COPD.
There are a few things you'll need to do to prepare for the test, to ensure accurate results:
- Stop taking your breathing medications for a short period (your provider will tell you when to stop)
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing that doesn't constrict your chest
- Avoid eating large meals for two hours before the test
- Avoid heavy exercise for 30 minutes before the test
Spirometry typically takes just 15 to 30 minutes. It’s performed with a spirometer — a mouthpiece connected to a machine that measures airflow. To make sure you’re breathing only through the mouthpiece, soft clips are placed on your nose.
With the clips in place, you'll be instructed to take a deep breath in and blow forcefully into the mouthpiece. While you do this, a computer tracks how much air you exhale and inhale back into your lungs. You'll do this at least three times to make sure the results are consistent. In some cases, you may also be asked to repeat the test after taking a bronchodilator, a medication that helps open your airways.
Spirometry measures your:
- Forced vital capacity (FVC). This is the highest amount of air you can forcefully and completely blow out after taking a deep breath in.
- Forced expiratory volume (FEV1). This is the amount of air you can blow out in one second.
Combined, this information can indicate how well you’re breathing and how strong your lungs are.
A healthy spirometry score is 80% or higher than what's typical for people in your demographic (based on age, sex assigned at birth, and other factors). Scores below 80% may indicate a lung or airway problem, such as:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- COPD
- Cystic fibrosis
- Emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease
In many cases, a chest screening simply offers peace of mind. But if your spirometry screening does reveal signs of COPD or another lung condition, we’ll let you know right away — and our nurse navigators will be here to help you take the next steps. And that can lead to life-changing or even lifesaving treatment.
COPD: An early diagnosis may mean more options
In its early, mild stages, COPD may not cause obvious symptoms. But it’s a progressive condition, meaning it gets worse over time. Left untreated, COPD can eventually cause permanent and even life-threatening lung damage. While there's no cure, this damage can be slowed when treatments are started sooner. Treatment also relieves a patient's symptoms and improves their quality of life.
If your spirometry screening indicates that you might have COPD, we’ll conduct additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate your condition. That might include blood tests, imaging, and a six-minute walk to check how well you can perform daily activities.
If those tests confirm you have COPD, you’ll be in good hands. The Temple Lung Center is a world leader in COPD treatment and research. Depending on your needs, your personalized treatment plan may include innovative, leading-edge options, including clinical trials and advanced procedures.
Treatment options may include:
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Medication, like bronchodilators
- Oxygen therapy
- Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction
- Lung volume reduction surgery
- Lung transplant
- Access to emerging therapies through clinical trials
- Help to quit smoking and other educational resources
Together, we can help you feel empowered to manage your lung condition and protect your health — so you can breathe easier and have the best possible quality of life.
Take control of your lung health
If you’re over 50 and you have a history of smoking — or if you’re concerned about your lung health — spirometry may offer answers and lead to expanded treatment options. To schedule your screening or make an appointment with a Temple pulmonologist, call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) or request an appointment online.
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