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. To check your best reading, test yourself with the spirometer every day for 2 to 3 weeks. Record the highest number each day.
When you finish the whole series of tests, the highest reading of all is your personal best. This can be a kind of benchmark. You and your doctor will use it to develop a plan for managing your disease with medication and other therapies. Many of these plans use a colour-coded system, like the traffic lights you see when you drive.
Lung function tests (also called pulmonary 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.
Lung function testing has very few risks. Some people may feel lightheaded or dizzy during the procedure. Also, some people may feel claustrophobic during the lung volume test. If you have questions or concerns about the tests, talk to your doctor.
Diaphragmatic breathing uses awareness of the diaphragm muscle, which separates the organs in the abdomen from the lungs. The American Lung Association offers Better Breathers Clubs throughout Illinois and across the country. Visit the American Lung Association website or call (800) LUNG-USA (586-487) to find one near you. Pulmonary function tests check how well your lungs are working.
The tests can detect lung problems, measure their severity, and check the effectiveness of treatment for a lung disease. 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). People with asthma or other chronic lung problems can usually only get a measure of their lung function at the doctor's office a few times a year by blowing into specialised equipment.
Lung function tests, also known as pulmonary function tests or PFTs, are a group of tests that check whether the lungs are working properly. Knowing the capacity and health of your lungs is vitally important for anyone undergoing oxygen therapy or suffering from a respiratory disease such as asthma or emphysema. Using a peak flow meter is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to monitor the daily progress of your lung health. Find out more about the "Healthy Lungs for Life" campaign and learn more about the importance of clean air, physical activity and smoking cessation for your lungs.
Since regular daily activity does not help you use your lungs to their full potential, you need to challenge your lungs with more intense activity. You may have one or more of these tests to diagnose lung and airway disease, compare your lung function to expected levels of function, monitor whether your disease is stable or worsening, and check if your treatment is working. Other tests may be needed to assess lung function in infants, children or patients who cannot perform spirometry and lung volume tests. In addition to lung function tests, your doctor may order a blood oxygen level test.
If you smoke or breathe hazards such as dust, smoke, fumes or chemicals at work, and your results are normal, you are still at high risk for various lung conditions and should do everything you can to protect your lungs.
