18th Judicial Circuit Court-Message from the Chief Judge. The judges and support staff of the Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois are committed to serving the public by providing a fair and efficient system of justice that fosters the public trust and confidence.
Everyone at risk for COPD who has cough, sputum production, or shortness of breath, should be tested for the disease. The test for COPD is called spirometry. Spirometry can detect COPD before symptoms become severe. It is a simple, non-invasive breathing test that measures the amount of air a person can blow out of the lungs (volume) and how fast he or she can blow it out (flow).
Spirometry is a lung capacity test that also measures how quickly you can exhale. Doctors use it to test for a variety of conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema. However, it also offers a general measure of cardiorespiratory fitness. During the test, a doctor or nurse clips your nose shut and then uses a machine to measure your breathing as you inhale and exhale. You will have to inhale deeply and slowly and then exhale as forcefully as you can several times.