Living with asthma: how regular lung function tests help
People with asthma often adapt without noticing. You avoid the stairs, you skip the class, you keep the reliever inhaler close. Spirometry gives an objective picture of what your lungs are actually doing.
Feeling fine is not the same as being well controlled
Asthma control is judged on symptoms, reliever use, night-time waking and how often your normal activity is limited.
Lung function testing adds hard numbers, which is particularly useful when symptoms have crept up so gradually that they feel normal.
What spirometry measures
FEV1 is how much air you can force out in the first second. FVC is the total you can exhale after a full breath in. The ratio between them shows whether airflow is obstructed.
The flow-volume curve adds shape to the numbers, and its pattern often tells us as much as the values themselves.
Using results over time
A single test is a snapshot. Repeating it gives a trend, which is far more useful for spotting slow decline or confirming that a treatment change has worked.
Bring previous results if you have them, and keep each report so your GP or specialist can compare.
Getting the most from your test
Avoid heavy meals, smoking and hard exercise beforehand, wear something comfortable, and tell us about your inhalers so we can advise on timing.
The test needs full effort, and our clinician coaches you through each blow so the result reflects your true capacity.
In short
If you have asthma and have never had spirometry, or your last test was years ago, a 15 minute appointment gives you a proper baseline.
This article is general information and does not replace individual clinical advice. If you have symptoms that concern you, speak to our team, your GP or call 111.
diagnostics service
Lung Function Test (Spirometry)
Simple, reliable lung function screening for clarity and confidence.