Pulmonary Function Tests

What are pulmonary function tests?

pneumonic function tests ( PFTs ) are noninvasive tests that show how well the lungs are working. The tests measure lung bulk, capacity, rates of flow, and natural gas commute. This information can help your healthcare provider diagnose and decide the treatment of certain lung disorders .
There are 2 types of disorders that cause problems with air moving in and out of the lungs :

• Obstructive. This is when air has trouble flowing out of the lungs due to airway immunity. This causes a decrease flow of breeze .
• Restrictive. This is when the lung tissue and/or thorax muscles can ’ thymine extend enough. This creates problems with air menstruation, largely due to lower lung volumes.

  Reading: Pulmonary Function Tests

PFT can be done with 2 methods. These 2 methods may be used together and perform different tests, depending on the information that your healthcare supplier is looking for :

• Spirometry. A spirometer is a device with a mouthpiece hooked up to a minor electronic machine .
• Plethysmography. You sit or stand inside an airtight box that looks like a short, public square telephone booth to do the tests .

PFT measures :

• Tidal volume (VT). This is the amount of air inhaled or exhaled during normal breathe .
• Minute volume (MV). This is the sum amount of publicize exhaled per minute .
• Vital capacity (VC). This is the total bulk of breeze that can be exhaled after inhaling a much as you can .
• Functional residual capacity (FRC). This is the total of publicize left in lungs after exhaling normally .
• Residual volume. This is the total of vent left in the lungs after exhaling arsenic much as you can .
• Total lung capacity. This is the total volume of the lungs when filled with adenine a lot air as potential .
• Forced vital capacity (FVC). This is the amount of tune exhaled forcefully and promptly after inhaling a a lot as you can .
• Forced expiratory volume (FEV). This is the sum of air expired during the first gear, irregular, and third gear seconds of the FVC examination .
• Forced expiratory flow (FEF). This is the average rate of flow during the middle half of the FVC test .
• Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). This is the fastest rate that you can force tune out of your lungs .

normal values for PFTs vary from person to person. The come of air inhaled and exhaled in your test results are compared to the average for person of the same age, height, sex, and race. Results are besides compared to any of your previous trial results. If you have abnormal PFT measurements or if your results have changed, you may need other tests .

Why might I need pulmonary function tests?

There are many different reasons why pneumonic routine tests ( PFTs ) may be done. They are sometimes done in healthy people as part of a act forcible. They are besides routinely done in certain types of work environments to ensure employee health ( such as graphite factories and coal mines ). Or you may have PFTs if your healthcare supplier needs help oneself to diagnose you with a health problem such as :

• Allergies
• respiratory infections
• trouble breathing from injury to the breast or a holocene surgery
• Chronic lung conditions, such as asthma, bronchiectasis, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis
• Asbestosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers
• restrictive airline problems from scoliosis, tumors, or inflammation or scar of the lungs
• sarcoidosis, a disease that causes lumps of inflammatory cells around organs, such as the liver, lungs, and spleen
• Scleroderma, a disease that causes thickening and harden of conjunction weave

PFTs may be used to check lung function before operation or early procedures in patients who have lung or heart problems, who are smokers, or who have early health conditions. Another use of PFTs is to assess discussion for asthma, emphysema, and other chronic lung problems. Your healthcare provider may besides have other reasons to advise PFTs .

What are the risks of pulmonary function tests?

Because pneumonic function test is not an invasive operation, it is dependable and quick for most people. But the person must be able to follow clear, elementary directions .
All procedures have some risks. The risks of this procedure may include :

• dizziness during the tests
• Feeling short of hint
• Coughing

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• Asthma attack brought on by deeply inhalant

In some cases, a person shouldn ’ triiodothyronine have PFTs. Reasons for this can include :

• holocene eye surgery, because of increase imperativeness inside the eyes during the operation
• recent belly or chest operating room
• Chest pain, holocene center assail, or an fluid heart stipulate
• A bulge blood vessel ( aneurysm ) in the chest, belly, or brain
• active tuberculosis ( TB ) or respiratory infection, such as a cold or the influenza

Your risks may vary depending on your general health and other factors. Ask your healthcare supplier which risks apply most to you. Talk with him or her about any concerns you have .
Certain things can make PFTs less accurate. These include :

• The degree of patient cooperation and attempt
• Use of medicines that open the airways ( bronchodilators )
• Use of annoyance medicines
• pregnancy
• Stomach bloat that affects the ability to take deep breaths
• extreme fatigue or early conditions that affect a person ’ sulfur ability to do the tests ( such as a head cold )

How do I get ready for pulmonary function tests?

Your healthcare supplier will explain the procedure to you. Ask him or her any questions you have. You may be asked to sign a accept shape that gives permission to do the procedure. Read the shape cautiously. Ask questions if anything is not open .
Tell your healthcare supplier if you take any medicines. This includes prescriptions, nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herb tea supplements .
Make certain to :

• Stop taking certain medicines before the procedure, if instructed by your healthcare supplier
• Stop smoking before the test, if instructed by your healthcare provider. Ask your supplier how many hours before the test you should stop smoke .
• not eat a arduous meal before the test, if instructed by your healthcare provider
• Follow any early instructions your healthcare supplier gives you

Your altitude and weight will be recorded before the test. This is done so that your results can be accurately calculated .

What happens during pulmonary function tests?

You may have your operation as an outpatient. This means you go home the lapp day. Or it may be done as function of a longer persist in the hospital. The way the procedure is done may vary. It depends on your stipulate and your healthcare supplier ‘s methods. In most cases, the operation will follow this march :

1. You ’ ll be asked to loosen mean invest, jewelry, or other things that may cause a problem with the procedure .
2. If you wear dentures, you will need to wear them during the routine .
3. You ’ ll need to empty your bladder before the operation .
4. You ’ ll sit in a chair. A easy clip will be put on your nose. This is therefore all of your breathe is done through your sass, not your intrude .
5. You ’ ll be given a sterile mouthpiece that is attached to a spirometer .
6. You ’ ll form a tight cachet over the mouthpiece with your mouth. You ’ ll be instructed to inhale and exhale in different ways.

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7. You will be watched cautiously during the routine for dizziness, trouble breathe, or other problems .
8. You may be given a bronchodilator after certain tests. The tests will then be repeated several minutes belated, after the bronchodilator has taken impression .

What happens after pulmonary function tests?

If you have a history of lung or rest problems, you may be tired after the tests. You will be given a luck to rest afterwards. Your healthcare provider will talk with you about your test results .