Final answer:
The FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 70% usually indicates obstructive lung disease, where there is a blockage slowing down airflow out of the lungs. Higher ratios typically suggest restrictive lung disease, where the FVC is reduced but expelling air is not obstructed. Diagnosis and treatment should be conducted by a healthcare provider.
Step-by-step explanation:
The FEV1/FVC ratio is a key metric derived from spirometry tests that is used to diagnose and differentiate types of lung diseases. FEV1, or forced expiratory volume in one second, measures how much air a person can forcibly exhale in one second after taking a deep breath, while FVC, or forced vital capacity, is the total amount of air that can be forcibly breathed out after taking the deepest breath possible.
A FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 70% is typically indicative of obstructive lung disease, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where there is a blockage that slows down air as it leaves the lungs. In restrictive lung disease, the FVC is reduced, but the airways are not obstructed, allowing people to still expel air relatively fast, which results in a higher FEV1/FVC ratio, usually between 88 to 90%. Therefore, a person with an FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 70% likely has a form of obstructive lung disease, and further evaluation by a healthcare provider is warranted to determine the exact condition and appropriate treatment.