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"How To Use An Incentive Spirometer?" asks Laura Lee

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 12, 2025

Laura Lee is getting ready for her valve surgery. In anticipation of her recovery, she asked me, "Would you please tell me how to use the incentive spirometer so I can start practicing? Thanks for everything! Laura Lee"

To help Laura Lee, I just found this instructional video on how to use an incentive spirometer from Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, California. Fyi, I had my double heart valve surgery at USC nearly 20 years ago.

I was also able to find some helpful instructions on how to use the incentive spirometer from the Cleveland Clinic and my own personal experience:

Place the mouthpiece in your mouth with your lips tightly sealed around it. Do not let your tongue block the mouthpiece.
Inhale (breathe in) slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece to raise the indicator. Try to make the indicator rise up to the level of the target pointer. This is the goal that you need to reach.
Note the highest level that the indicator has reached.
When you cannot inhale any longer, remove the mouthpiece and hold your breath for at least three seconds.
Exhale normally.
Repeat these steps 5 to 10 times every hour when awake, or as often as caregivers tell you to.
After each session, try to cough out the sputum (mucus) from your lungs. This is done by inhaling deeply and pushing the air out of your lungs with a deep, strong cough.

Patient Using Incentive Sprimoter In Hospital

Me (Adam) Using The Incentive Spirometer

To achieve the key benefits of using the incentive spirometer and avoid fluid in your lungs, please remember to use the device consistently. At the same time, you do not want to enhale too deeply, too quickly or you may experience discomfort and/or pain.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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