If you have shortness of breath or a cough that won’t go away, you might need pulmonary function tests. At LungDocs, pulmonary specialist Rajesh Shetty, MD, provides several types of pulmonary function tests onsite to assess your lung health. These noninvasive tests measure how much air moves in and out of your lungs. Using these tests, the providers can diagnose conditions like asthma and emphysema, so you can get the treatment you need to feel better. Call the Kyle or New Braunfels, Texas, office to schedule pulmonary function tests or book an appointment online today.
Pulmonary function tests are noninvasive diagnostic procedures to evaluate the function of your lungs. These tests measure how much air moves in and out of your lungs and how well oxygen absorbs into your blood.
There are several types of pulmonary function tests available at LungDocs, including:
Spirometry measures how much air you can breathe in and breathe out and provides information about how much air is in your lungs.
Body plethysmography measures how much air is in your lungs after you inhale and exhale.
A gas diffusion study measures how much oxygen and other gasses move from your lungs into your blood.
A CPET assesses how well your lungs, heart, and muscles function during exercise.
You might need the pulmonary function tests available at LungDocs if you have persistent symptoms that relate to a lung illness or disorder. These symptoms can include:
The providers use pulmonary function tests to confirm conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis.
During tests like spirometry, body plethysmography, and a gas diffusion study, you can expect to breathe into a device that measures how much air you can inhale and exhale. Your provider guides you through different breathing patterns to get accurate measurements of your lung function.
If you have a CPET, your provider connects sensors to your body to measure your blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, and heartbeat while you walk on a treadmill.
Tests are comfortable and can take 15-45 minutes to complete depending on the type of test you have. Some people may feel lightheaded or dizzy during testing because of the deep breathing. However, these issues go away soon after your tests are complete.
Based on the results of your pulmonary function tests, your provider discusses your options for any treatments you may need. They customize a care plan to resolve your symptoms and improve your overall lung function.
Call the LungDocs office near you to learn more about the benefits of pulmonary function tests, or book an appointment online today.