robbster 02 Nov 2007 01:16 pm
Quick At Home Check of Lung Function
The Match Test
Light a match in a draft-free room, let it burn halfway, hold it 6 inches from your mouth, and try to blow it out with your mouth wide open. If you can’t, your lungs may not be in the best condition.
Measure Your Chest
Measure your chest at rest. Men should measure the chest around the nipples; women should measure just under the breasts.
Take a full breath and measure again while holding the breath. The second measurement should be at least 1.5 inches more than the first one. If your chest expands less than 1.5 inches with a deep breath, your lungs may be weak and you should see your doctor.
Time Your Exhalation
Take a deep breath, then time yourself while you exhale it as fast as possible. Time only the exhalation, not the inhalation. If it takes longer than 3 to 4 seconds to exhale, you may have a lung disorder and should see your doctor.
Source: Weiss RJ, Sharpe-Subak G, and the editors of Consumer Reports Books: The Columbia University School of Public Health 40+ Guide to Good Health. Yonkers, NY, Consumer Reports Books, 1993.
