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June 11, 2025

How to Read Your Spirometry Report: What Lung Age Really Means

Not sure what your spirometry results mean? This post breaks down lung age, why it matters, and what to do if it’s older than your actual age.

How to Read Your Spirometry Report: What Lung Age Really Means

Understanding Your Spirometry Report: What Does Your Lung Age Mean?

Introduction

If you’ve recently completed a spirometry test, you likely received a report with a variety of unfamiliar terms, numbers, and graphs—FEV1, FVC, and something called "lung age." While it may seem technical at first glance, understanding your spirometry results—especially your lung age—can be a powerful tool for assessing your respiratory health.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through:

  • What spirometry measures

  • What “lung age” really means

  • Reasons your lung age might be higher than expected (and when not to worry)

  • When an older lung age could signal the need for further evaluation

Let’s decode your report and help you make sense of what your lungs are telling you.

What Is Spirometry?

Spirometry is a simple, non-invasive breathing test that measures how well your lungs move air in and out. It’s commonly used to:

  • Screen for lung diseases (like asthma or COPD)

  • Monitor existing conditions

  • Assess lung function in smokers or those with occupational exposures

  • Evaluate shortness of breath or chronic cough

During the test, you’ll be asked to inhale deeply and then exhale forcefully into a tube connected to a spirometer. The machine records how much and how quickly air leaves your lungs.

Key Terms on Your Spirometry Report

Before we dive into lung age, it helps to understand a few main spirometry measurements:

Measurement What It Means
FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second) The amount of air you can forcefully exhale in one second. This is the most important measure of lung function.
FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) The total amount of air you can forcibly exhale after taking the deepest breath possible.
FEV1/FVC Ratio The percentage of your lung capacity you can exhale in one second. Helps identify obstructive vs. restrictive lung patterns.
PEF (Peak Expiratory Flow) The fastest speed at which you can blow air out.
Lung Age An estimate of your lung function compared to average healthy individuals in the general population.

What Is Lung Age?

Lung age is a calculated estimate that compares your FEV1 (the volume of air you can exhale in one second) to the average expected FEV1 for someone of your chronologic age, sex, height, and race.

If your FEV1 is lower than average, your lung age will be older than your actual age.

Example:

  • You are 45 years old

  • Your spirometry shows a lung age of 60

That means your lungs are functioning like those of the average healthy 60-year-old—not ideal, but it doesn't always mean you have a serious condition.

Why Lung Age Matters

Lung age is especially helpful for:

  • Motivating behavior change (e.g., quitting smoking)

  • Identifying early lung damage

  • Tracking response to treatment

  • Detecting progressive disease before symptoms arise

It’s a powerful visual and motivational tool, but it’s important to understand the context behind the number.

Why Your Lung Age Might Appear Older — And It’s Not Always a Concern

A higher lung age doesn't always mean something is wrong. Here are a few reasons you could see an older lung age that don’t necessarily indicate disease:

1. Poor Effort During the Test

  • If you don’t exhale forcefully or completely, your FEV1 may appear artificially low.

  • Spirometry requires maximum effort to generate accurate results.

2. Inexperience or Nervousness

  • New patients often underperform simply because they don’t fully understand the instructions or feel nervous.

3. Improper Test Technique

  • Leaks around the mouthpiece, starting to blow too late, or cutting the breath short can affect measurements.

4. Upper Respiratory Illness

  • A cold, allergies, or recent bronchitis can temporarily reduce airflow.

5. Suboptimal Coaching

  • The person conducting your test plays a huge role in ensuring proper technique and effort.

6. Medication Timing

  • If you normally take an inhaler but skipped it before the test, your lung function could appear worse than it really is.

If any of these apply, your provider may recommend repeating the test under better conditions before jumping to conclusions.

When an Older Lung Age Deserves a Closer Look

Sometimes, a significantly elevated lung age is the first sign of a developing problem. Your provider may recommend further testing if:

🚩 You have symptoms like:

  • Chronic cough

  • Wheezing

  • Shortness of breath

  • Frequent respiratory infections

  • Chest tightness

  • Decreased exercise tolerance

🚩 You have risk factors such as:

  • Smoking (current or past)

  • Vaping or marijuana use

  • Family history of COPD or asthma

  • Occupational exposure to dust, fumes, or chemicals

  • History of secondhand smoke or poor indoor air quality

  • Autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)

🚩 Your lung age is 20+ years older than your actual age

In these cases, your provider may recommend:

  • Repeat spirometry with bronchodilator

  • Diffusion capacity testing (DLCO)

  • Chest X-ray or CT scan

  • Referral to a pulmonologist

How to Improve or Protect Your Lung Age

While you can’t turn back time, you can support your lung function through intentional lifestyle changes and treatments.

🫁 1. Stop Smoking

This is the most important change you can make. Even 24 hours after quitting, your lungs start to heal.

💊 2. Follow Asthma or COPD Treatment Plans

  • Use inhalers as prescribed

  • Monitor symptoms

  • Avoid triggers

🏃♀️ 3. Exercise Regularly

  • Aerobic exercise improves oxygen exchange and strengthens respiratory muscles.

🧘 4. Practice Breath Training

  • Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing improve lung efficiency.

🫧 5. Avoid Pollutants

  • Wear masks or respirators in dusty or smoky environments

  • Use air purifiers indoors

🌿 6. Support Lung Health with Nutrition and Supplements

Consider:

  • Omega 1300 – to reduce inflammation

  • NAC – to thin mucus and promote antioxidant defense

  • Glutathione – to combat oxidative lung stress

  • Curcumin Complex – to reduce airway inflammation

  • AllerFx – for histamine-related respiratory issues

Always consult your provider before beginning any new supplement.

When to Repeat Spirometry

If your lung age is elevated—but your symptoms or effort during the test were suboptimal—your provider may recommend repeating spirometry in a few weeks.

Reasons to retest include:

  • Improvement in effort or technique

  • Post-treatment evaluation (e.g., after starting inhalers)

  • Recovery from illness

  • Confirmation before diagnosis of a chronic lung condition

Final Thoughts

Your lung age is a helpful tool, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. It’s meant to raise awareness—not cause alarm.

If your lung age is older than expected:

  • Don’t panic

  • Reflect on test conditions and your symptoms

  • Talk with your provider about whether follow-up testing is necessary

  • Consider lifestyle changes that can protect your lungs long term

Whether you're an athlete, a smoker, or someone experiencing unexplained fatigue or shortness of breath, spirometry provides actionable insights. Use it as a catalyst for informed decision-making and proactive wellness.

Need Help Interpreting Your Spirometry or Lung Age?

Our team at Revolution Health & Wellness is here to guide you through every step—from test interpretation to personalized treatment plans.

📞 Call us today or schedule a consultation online. Breathe easier knowing your lungs are in good hands.