Pulmonary Function Tests

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are a group of tests that measure how well your lungs work. This includes how well you're able to breathe and how effective your lungs are able to bring oxygen to the rest of your body.

Overview

Your doctor may order these tests:

• If you're having symptoms of lung problems.
• If you're regularly exposed to certain substances in the environment or workplace.
• To monitor the course of chronic lung disease, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• To assess how well your lungs are working before you have surgery.

Types of Pulmonary Function Tests

Pulmonary function tests are done to diagnose certain types of lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, find the cause of shortness of breath, measure whether exposure to chemicals at work affects lung function, and measure progress in disease treatment.

Spirometry

Spirometry is the first and most commonly done lung function test. It measures how much and how quickly you can move air out of your lungs.

Lung volume tests

Lung volume tests are the most accurate way to measure how much air your lungs can hold.

Gas diffusion tests

Gas diffusion tests measure the amount of oxygen and other gases that move across the lungs' air sacs (alveoli) per minute.

Exercise stress test

For an exercise stress test, you exercise on a treadmill or bicycle while your doctor monitors your EKG, blood pressure, and oxygen level.

Risks

The tests are generally safe. Some people may feel lightheaded or short of breath during the tests. In rare cases, the tests may trigger severe breathing problems.

Results

Your doctor will look at the pattern of your test results to determine what type of lung disease you have. Your doctor can also compare your results with those from previous tests.

Pulmonary Function Tests Resources
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