What Are Lung Function Tests?
Lung function tests measure the size of your lungs, how much air you can breathe in and out, how fast you can breathe air out, and how well your lungs deliver oxygen to your blood. These tests also are called pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) function tests. Lung function tests are used to look for the cause of breathing problems (like shortness of breath). These tests are used to check for conditions such as asthma, lung tissue scarring, sarcoidosis (sar-koy-DO-sis), and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Lung function tests also are used to see how well treatments for breathing problems, such as asthma medicines, are working. The tests may be used to check on whether a condition, such lung tissue scarring, is getting worse.
Lung function tests, also called pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) function tests, measure how well your lungs work. These tests are used to look for the cause of breathing problems, such as shortness of breath. Lung function tests measure: • How much air you can take into your lungs. This amount is compared to that of other people your age, height, and sex. This allows your doctor to see whether you’re in the normal range. • How much air you can blow out of your lungs and how fast you can do it. • How well your lungs deliver oxygen to your blood. • The strength of your breathing muscles. Doctors use lung function tests to help diagnose conditions such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lung tissue), and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Lung function tests also are used to check the extent of damage caused by conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis (sar-koy-DOE-sis). Also, these tests may be used to check how well treatments, such as asthma medicines, are
