Pulmonary Function Testing Specialist

What is pulmonary function testing?

Pulmonary function testing is a way of assessing how well your lungs are working. Various types of tests measure things like how much oxygen your lungs are delivering to your blood and how much air your lungs can hold.

The Pulmonary Care Clinics team might need you to undergo pulmonary function testing to find out why you're experiencing symptoms such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chronic cough
• Breathing noisily
• Taking fast, shallow breaths
• Chest pain

Pulmonary function testing is also useful to assess any changes in your lung function when you're undergoing treatment for a lung disorder.

What kind of pulmonary function testing might I need?

There are several ways of performing pulmonary function testing. Methods the Pulmonary Care Clinics team uses include:

Spirometry

A spirometer measures the volume of air going in and out of your lungs and the speed the air travels.

Plethysmography

Plethysmography measures how much air you can retain in your lungs and the air that's left after you breathe out as fully as possible.

Peak flow

Peak flow is a measure of how hard you can breathe out.

Nitric oxide test

A nitric oxide test measures the quantities of gas in your lungs. High levels in the breath you exhale are a sign of inflamed airways.

Gas diffusion test

This test assesses how well oxygen and other inhaled gases move from your lungs to your bloodstream.

Arterial blood gas test

This test looks at how much carbon dioxide and oxygen there is in the blood in your arteries and the blood's pH level.

Your provider at Pulmonary Care Clinics might also give you a bronchodilator, a drug that opens up the airways to assess how well your lungs function with the help of medication.

What happens during pulmonary function testing?

Pulmonary function testing is a simple in-office procedure in most cases. 

The way the test works varies with each method. For example, a spirometry test involves breathing into a mouthpiece while following your provider's instructions on how to breathe. Plethysmography is similar, except you sit in a clear, airtight cubicle during the test.

You might find the way you have to breathe during pulmonary function testing makes you feel dizzy or lightheaded, but you’re under close observation so your provider can step in if you have difficulties. Other than that, the tests should be painless and typically only take a short time.

To find out more about pulmonary function testing or to schedule a consultation, call Pulmonary Care Clinics today or book an appointment online.