How can a patient benefit from using an incentive spirometer?

Using an incentive spirometer significantly improves lung function, which is particularly important after surgery or during recovery from respiratory illnesses. When patients take deep breaths using the spirometer, they can expand their lungs fully, promoting better ventilation. This process helps to prevent atelectasis, a condition where parts of the lung may collapse due to inadequate inflation. By encouraging deeper inhalation, the incentive spirometer enhances oxygenation and overall respiratory function, playing a crucial role in recovery.

The other options, while they may seem beneficial in different contexts, do not directly correlate with the primary purpose of an incentive spirometer. While medication absorption, pain distraction, and wound healing are important aspects of postoperative care, they are not the primary functions addressed by using this specific device.