Final answer:
An incentive spirometer is used to increase lung compliance, volume, and prevent atelectasis, while spirometry measures like FEV and FVC are critical in diagnosing respiratory conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a patient using an incentive spirometer is primarily to aid in the recovery process after surgery or to help with lung conditions. By encouraging the patient to take deep breaths, the device helps to increase lung volume, prevent atelectasis (collapse of part of the lung), and facilitate better gas exchange.
It can also help to increase the compliance of the lung, making it easier for the patient to breathe and reducing the work of breathing.
During spirometry, important measurements such as the Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) and the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) are taken. These values are crucial in diagnosing and managing respiratory diseases like asthma, emphysema, and fibrosis.
The FEV1/FVC ratio is particularly valuable in differentiating between obstructive lung diseases, where expelling air is difficult, and restrictive diseases, where taking in air is limited due to decreased lung capacity.