Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV) is typically measured over how many seconds?

Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) is a crucial measure used in pulmonary function testing to assess how much air a person can forcefully exhale in the first second of a breath. This measurement is important for diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The standard for measuring FEV involves capturing the amount of air expelled in the first second of a complete, forced exhalation after taking a deep breath. This duration ensures a quick but comprehensive assessment of lung function, providing valuable insights into the airway's condition and the overall respiratory health of the individual.

Choosing a longer duration such as 10, 20, or even 60 seconds would not specifically gauge the rapid expulsion of air and could lead to different interpretations of lung function. Therefore, the one-second measurement is the standard and accepted practice for FEV assessments.