FEV1/FVC %

[Rowentree]

29 year old male 6ft2 12st4p asthma. Stupidly smoked for 6 years then 4 years "socially" now quit. Had Spiro fev1 - 103% FVC - 122% VC - 120% FEV1/FVC 70% I have read many other post so I know these results aren't terrible however I have panicking as fev1/FVC % seems low. Got to wait 3 weeks to see a doctor. Should I be worried. I'm exercising ever day and eating healthy. Thank you in advance for you advice and knowledge.

[hypercat54]

Hi the most important figure is your FEV1 which is your lung function and how much air you can blow out in 1 second. At 103% it is better than most normal peoples so you definitely haven't got a problem there! To give you an example I have copd and my FEV1 is around the mid 70's so I am very high moderate. Anything 90 and over is normal.

It would be very unusual for someone at your age and smoking history to have developed any lung damage as this is usually diagnosed after decades of heavy smoking - I smoked for 44 years. So please stop worrying and just get on with your life as normal. x

[Superzob in reply to hypercat54]

Reading around the subject, I'm not sure that the FEV1/FVC % is a particularly useful guide if all your values are above the average anyway, probably because you exercise. There'll be plenty on this site who will be very envious!

[soulsaver]

Your Fev1/FVC isn't low- it means you can blow out 70% of your total lung capacity in one second which is pretty well in the normal range in most jurisdictions.

Wiki: ...specifically, according to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the diagnosis of COPD is made when the FEV1/FVC ratio is less than 0.7 or[6] the FEV1 is less than 80% of predicted;[7] however, other authoritative bodies have different diagnostic cutoff points.

0.7 IS 70% and your Fev1 is well above 80% so qualify as normal (within the normal range) in the UK.

[jackdup]

The main reason your FEV1/FVC is only 70% is because your FVC is well above normal which lowers the ratio. If it was low because your FEV1 was below normal than it may be indicative of something to be concerned about.

Of course I am not a doctor but assume if there was anything to be concerned about your doctor will mention it.

[Madriver]

Hi I have a FVC of 122 predicted and an FEV of 107 predicted , yet my symptoms are relentless - wheezing coughing - what feels like permanent burning in my throat area . My FEV1/FVC Is 70 post inhaler. I had the throat pain which forced me to gove up smoking 9 moths ago, all of the symptoms have since got worst - but due to the high spirometry figures - my consultant will not diagnose me with Copd , even though at 39 years of age the ratio of 70 appears low to me and indictive of an obstruction there!

Point being - I really struggle despite having a decent FEV and high FVC