Pulmonary Function Testing

Pulmonary Function Testing: Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) is a group of non-invasive tests used to assess how well your lungs are working. These tests measure different aspects of lung function, including how much air your lungs can hold (lung capacity), how quickly you can move air in and out (airflow), and how efficiently your lungs transfer oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide (gas exchange). During a PFT, you may be asked to breathe in and out through a mouthpiece connected to a special machine, sometimes after using an inhaler to see if your lung function improves. PFTs are commonly used to diagnose respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and other lung disorders. They are also useful in monitoring the progress of lung disease, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment, and checking lung health before surgery. By providing detailed information about your breathing, PFTs help doctors make accurate diagnoses and create the best treatment plans for healthy lung function.

The tests may involve:

• A skin prick(small scratches on the skin to see if there’s a reaction)
• A small injection under the skin
• A blood testto check your immune response

Once they know the triggers, they might suggest allergy treatment such as allergy shots or tablets under the tongue. This treatment slowly exposes your body to tiny amounts of the allergen so your immune system learns to tolerate it.

The aim is to reduce your symptoms, cut down on medicines, and keep your breathing healthier in the long run.