A spirometry test measures the health of your lungs and can be used to diagnose and monitor lung conditions. During the test, you will exhale as much air as you can, as forcefully as possible, into a device called a spirometer. Pulmonary function tests (also called lung function tests) include a series of tests that check how well your lungs are working. The most basic test is spirometry.
This test measures how much air the lungs can hold. The test also measures the force with which air can be emptied from the lungs. How is lung capacity measured? A common method is to use a peak flow meter, a hand-held device that measures the force of breathing. Simply breathe in at one end and the meter instantly displays a reading on a scale, usually in litres per minute (bpm).
Normal PFT values vary from person to person. The amount of air inhaled and exhaled in your test results are compared to the average for someone of the same age, height, sex and race. The results are also compared with your previous test results. If your PFT measurements are abnormal or your results have changed, you may need further testing.
The test measures how much air is inhaled and exhaled, and how fast the air is inhaled and exhaled. This test is done in a sitting position. After taking a few normal breaths, you exhale into a mouthpiece as hard or as long as possible, depending on what the examiner asks you to do. It is important to follow the examiner's instructions carefully to ensure the best results.
Your nose will be pinched with a nose clip to prevent you from breathing through your nose. The mouthpiece is connected to a device called a spirometer. This device measures the amount of air you inhale and exhale as you breathe. The measurements are displayed as a graph on the monitor of the device.
What are pulmonary function tests? Why do I need a pulmonary function test? What are the risks of pulmonary function tests? How do I prepare for pulmonary function tests? What happens during a pulmonary function test? Spirometry is the most common lung function test. It measures how much and how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. You breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a machine called a spirometer. For example, if you exhale much less than the normal volume of air in one second or still have too much air in your lungs after you exhale forcefully, it may be a sign of lung disease.
Using a peak flow meter is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to track the daily progress of your lung health. Tests can detect lung problems, measure their severity and check the effectiveness of treatment for lung disease. In addition to lung function tests, your doctor may order a blood oxygen level test. People with asthma or other chronic lung problems can usually only get a measurement of their lung function at the doctor's office a few times a year by blowing into specialised equipment.
Knowing the capacity and health of the lungs is vitally important for anyone undergoing oxygen therapy or suffering from a respiratory disease such as asthma or emphysema. Pulmonary function tests, also known as pulmonary function tests or PFTs, are a group of tests that check whether the lungs are working properly.
