How is pulmonary emphysema diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, the physician may request the following: • pulmonary function tests – diagnostic tests that help to measure the lungs’ ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide appropriately. The tests are usually performed with special machines into which the person must breathe, and may include the following: • Click Image to Enlarge spirometry – a spirometer is a device used by your physician that assesses lung function. Spirometry, the evaluation of lung function with a spirometer, is one of the simplest, most common pulmonary function tests and may be necessary for any/all of the following reasons: • to determine how well the lungs receive, hold, and utilize air • to monitor a lung disease • to monitor the effectiveness of treatment • to determine the severity of a lung disease • to determine whether the lung disease is restrictive (decreased airflow) or obstructive (disruption of airflow) • peak flow monitoring (PFM) – a dev
