Pulmonary function test
Pulmonary function test
A Pulmonary function test (PFT) is 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[edit | edit source]
The primary purpose of pulmonary function testing is to identify the severity of pulmonary impairment. Pulmonary function testing has diagnostic and therapeutic roles and helps clinicians answer some general questions about patients with lung disease.
Types of Tests[edit | edit source]
Pulmonary function tests are a broad range of tests that measure different aspects of lung function. They can be divided into:
- Spirometry: This is the most common type of pulmonary function test. It measures how much and how quickly you can move air out of your lungs.
- Lung volume tests: These are often done at the same time as spirometry tests. They measure the size of your lungs, how much air you can breathe in and out, how much air remains in your lungs after a normal exhale, and how much air you can exhale in the first second of a forced exhale.
- Gas diffusion tests: These tests measure how well your lungs exchange gases. This is an important part of lung function. The most common test of this type is called the DLCO.
- Exercise stress tests: These tests look at how your heart and lungs work together when you're exercising.
Indications[edit | edit source]
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
- Check lung function before someone has surgery
Risks[edit | edit source]
Pulmonary function tests are generally safe. They are noninvasive. However, because the test may require you to breathe in and out quickly, you may feel dizzy and there's a slight risk that you may faint.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Pulmonary function test Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
