Can anyone help with interpreting FEV1 and FVC?

[BookNut]

I had a spirometry test today at Cleveland Clinic. I know it was low enough that they felt it too dangerous for me to take the Methacholine Challenge Test which involves inhaling something that irritates the airways. Anyway - the technician gave me my results, but I am not sure how to interpret them.

FVC - 2.00
FV1 - 0.99

From my reading, I THINK that means that my lungs were at 50%. If anyone can help me understand what that means, I would be very grateful. Thanks!

[Pete]

Did they give you the normal ranges for these results? Can you get them from myChart?

I subscribe to myChart at both OSU and Cleveland Clinic, and I generally have my results within a day. If the doc has a concern, I also get a note about it.

[mrtmeo]

I found this on FEV and FVC.
So .99/2 = .49 or 50% approx.

The first is called the forced vital capacity (FVC). This is a measurement of lung size (in liters) and represents the volume of air in the lungs that can be exhaled following a deep inhalation. The second is the forced expiratory volume-one second (FEV1). This is a measure of how much air can be exhaled in one second following a deep inhalation. You will also see another number on the spirometry test results --- the FEV1/ FVC ratio. This number represents the percent of the lung size (FVC) that can be exhaled in one second. For example, if the FEV1 is 4 and the FVC is 5, then the FEV1/ FVC ratio would be 4/5 or 80%. This means the individual can breath out 80% of the inhaled air in the lungs in one second.
Understanding Your Breathing Test Results (http://www.worker-health.org/breathingtestresults.html)

[BookNut]

Thanks Pete and mrtmeo! Results are not yet on MyChart. Maybe next week. Maybe not at all. The spirometry test do not show up on my other doctors' MyCharts.

Piecing things together from what I could find and from Mrtmeo's response, it looks like I am at about 50%. After 4 puffs of albuterol, the ratio only went up to 51%. a 50% reading is just on the border of moderate and severe COPD. I am losing faith in my regular pulmy. He insists that I do NOT have COPD. But...I think he might be basing that on my function tests from when I started with him about 18 months ago. I believe the numbers were much better back then. And also on the fact that I never smoked and have led a pretty healthy lifestyle.

[mrtmeo]

Hi Jacquie,
You may want to look up the Buteyko Breathing Method.
This technique is very helpful in understanding how to breath and how to stop a panic attack if u feel like u r not getting enuf air.

There are many videos online and here is a site that has a ton of info and maybe a little too much.
Buteyko Method (http://www.normalbreathing.com/buteyko-method.php)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx-3dt9L72c

[BookNut]

Hi Jacquie,
You may want to look up the Buteyko Breathing Method.
This technique is very helpful in understanding how to breath and how to stop a panic attack if u feel like u r not getting enuf air.

There are many videos online and here is a site that has a ton of info and maybe a little too much.
Buteyko Method (http://www.normalbreathing.com/buteyko-method.php)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx-3dt9L72c

Thanks. I will look into this carefully. The drive home was very hard. I drove most of the way because my husband has a broken collar bone. It did me in and my peak flow has dropped from 250 to 150. Back on prednisone yet again. Will make appt with my astma specialist ASAP. I am interested in this and other rehab techniques.

[Psyborg]

FEV and FVC are similar. FVC is the force output in the beginning of forced exhalation, FEV is the sustained output. The shape of your curve has a lot to do with the problem more than the numbers themselves as I recall. Sorry I was hoping I had one of mine to share, but none of my PFT's are on either of the mycharts I have access to. For instance I can take in quite a bit of air, but the stenosis causes my airway to restrict my FVC severely so i have a weird drop in the curve on exhalation rather than a gradual drop.