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

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

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

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

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

• Spirometry
• Lung volume
• Gas diffusion tests
• Exercise stress tests

Pulmonary function test Resources
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