What do we mean by Pulmonary Function Tests or PFTs? They are lung tests that predict how well our lungs are working. PFTs are non-invasive tests and there is no need for the doctor to cut or insert any tool inside the body....
What do we mean by Pulmonary Function Tests or PFTs? They are lung tests that predict how well our lungs are working. PFTs are non-invasive tests and there is no need for the doctor to cut or insert any tool inside the body. They offer valuable information about the respiratory system of a human being.
A Pulmonary Function Test can measure various key parameters like lung capacity, gas exchange, and airflow. This knowledge is essential in studying the lung health of a person and keeping a watch on disease progression. The results help doctors to devise individualized treatment plans for patients.
Why do doctors order a PFT?
The doctors advise a PFT because the results help them in diagnosing many diseases, which include, asthma, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, damaged or scarred lung tissue, sarcoidosis, lung cancer, infections, airways that have become thickened, stretched, or enlarged, disease caused by breathing in asbestos fibers, thick and hard connective tissues (scleroderma), eakness of the muscles in the wall of the chest, etc. The correct results of a PFT can help patients get the right treatment.
What are the different types of PFT tests?
Based on a patient’s condition, a doctor chooses the required test from among the different PFT tests. The working of each test is different. We’ll look at all the different sets of lung tests:
Spirometry
Spirometry is among the commonest pulmonary function tests, which measures how much air a person can breathe in and breathe out. It also measures how fast one can exhale the air out of the lungs.
This test helps to diagnose any breathing problems such as asthma and COPD. If a patient is taking an asthma medicine, Spirometry can assist the physician to find out the efficacy of the medicine.
During the test, a patient is asked to breathe in as much air as they can. Then, they will quickly blow out as much air as they can through a tube connected to a machine called a spirometer.
Spirometry looks at two things:
It looks at how much air one can breathe out after inhaling deeply. The results can be a prediction if a person is less able to breathe normally.
Secondly, it measures how much air a person can exhale in one second. The score is an indication of the severity of the breathing problem.
Body plethysmography
During body plethysmography, a patient will be asked to breathe in deeply to measure how much air is there in the lungs after the inhalation. It also looks at the amount of air that stays in the lungs once the patient exhales.
Doctors order this test for many reasons:
This test is done if the doctor wants to see how a disease like COPD or asthma affects the lungs of the patient. The test may indicate if an earlier treatment is redundant and may need to change.
Body plethysmography can also predict the presence of a lung disease that shrinks the amount of space in the patient’s lungs. It is called a restrictive disease.
This test can reveal whether the airways have narrowed, helping the doctor in deciding whether lung medicines called bronchodilators could be of any help to the patient. Bronchodilators work by opening airways.
This test also helps doctors ascertain how well a patient can cope in case surgery becomes necessary.
As for the test, it is painless and hardly takes about 15 minutes. During this test, the patient is asked sit on a clear plastic box. The person has to put on a nose clip and breathe through the mouth through a special mouthpiece.
Lung diffusion capacity
This test tries to measure how well the oxygen moves from the lungs into the blood of a person.
This test is akin to Spirometry and the person breathes into a tube fitted to a machine. The test helps diagnose a disease of the blood vessels between the heart and lungs. It can also reveal the extent of damage suffered due to a disease like emphysema. In this disease, the air sacs are gradually destroyed.
Bronchial provocation test
For an asthmatic patient smoke, dust, and exercise can be inimical suddenly making it very hard to breathe. So, a bronchial provocation test is beneficial in detecting asthma in a person. This test can also predict the severity of the asthma in an individual.
This test is conducted by making the patient inhale a medication that makes the airways narrow. Then, the patient has to take a Spirometry test. It is repeated several times and the doctor will use the readings to find out how much the patient’s airways narrow during an asthma attack.
Cardiopulmonary exercise stress test
This test is conducted to figure out the lung and heart strength of a patient, who may have heart disease or lung problems. Sometimes, these conditions may manifest only during exercise.
During the test, the patient has to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bicycle and the doctor keeps monitoring the heart rate as the heart beats faster and faster. The patient will have to breathe into a tube that monitors the lungs as they work harder.
Pulse oximetry test
This is generally a painless test, which measures the oxygen content in the blood. In this test, the doctor clips a probe to the finger, the earlobe, or another part of the skin of the patient. The device has light to measure the level of oxygen in the red blood cells.
Arterial blood gas test
This test is conducted to see the levels of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood drawn from one of the arteries of the patient.
In this, the patient has to visit the hospital for an arterial blood gas test. A technician will draw the blood sample using a needle from the wrist.
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide test
In certain kinds of asthma, a patient is likely to have high levels of nitric oxide in the body. This fractional exhaled nitric oxide test is a measure of how much of it is in the air the patient breathes out.
In this test, the patient is required to breathe out slowly and steadily into a tube connected to a portable device.
Lung test price
If you want to know about your lung test price, contact your healthcare facility or your doctor to get the exact quote. It is important to note that the lug test price may vary based on a host of reasons like the location, the standard of the facility, and the particular test needed.
Conclusion
Most pulmonary function tests get over within 15 to 30 minutes. Patients may feel tired for which the medical team allows them to rest for a while. After that people can resume their daily activities. The accuracy of the results of PFTs depends on a slew of factors such as the extent the patient can follow the doctor’s direction, the medicines one is taking, pain medicines, pregnancy, bloating in the stomach, fatigue, etc. It is also governed by age, height, and gender. An abnormal finding indicates a lung problem that needs to be discussed with the doctor for future courses of action.
FAQs
Can I take my regular medications before a pulmonary function test?
Some medications may interfere with the test and the results. So, talk to your doctor beforehand to rule out any exigencies.
Are there any risks or complications associated with pulmonary function tests?
Pulmonary function tests are generally considered safe and non-invasive. However, in some rare cases, forced breathing may cause temporary dizziness or lightheadedness. One should talk to the physician if there is any apprehension.
What can I expect during a pulmonary function test?
During a PFT, you will typically be asked to perform breathing maneuvers using a device called a Spirometer. It is painless, although a few individuals could find it slightly challenging or tiring.
What is a pulmonary function test (PFT)?
A pulmonary function test is a series of non-invasive examination that tries to detect the functioning of the lungs and respiratory system.
