1-714:

You have been tested to see whether your airways are overreacting to certain factors.

Air is breathed in via the mouth or nose. From there the air goes to the windpipe via the larynx. At the end of the windpipe are two bronchial tubes (or bronchi) branching away from it. The bronchial tubes run into the lungs. What is more, the bronchial tubes divide into even smaller branches. The larynx, windpipe, bronchia and lungs are part of the lower airways.

Some people’s airways overreact to various factors. These may be substances that are inhaled, cold air, or physical effort, for example. The airways can then become constricted. Breathing may become more difficult as a result. This is known as airway hypersensitivity.

During the test the patient inhales a particular substance or cold air, for example. Physical effort is also sometimes involved. The patient exhales rapidly, several times, through the mouthpiece. A measuring device that calculates certain values is attached to the mouthpiece. These values can be used to assess how the lungs are reacting to the relevant factors.