A pulmonary function test (PFT) assesses how well your lungs work by measuring several key parameters:
1. **Spirometry**: This measures how much air you can inhale, exhale, and how quickly you can exhale. It helps diagnose conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other lung diseases.
2. **Lung Volume Measurements**: These tests determine the amount of air in your lungs and how efficiently you can move air in and out. They help diagnose restrictive lung diseases and assess the severity of lung damage.
3. **Diffusion Capacity Test**: Also known as a DLCO test, it measures how well oxygen moves from the lungs into the bloodstream. It helps diagnose conditions affecting the lung tissue and blood vessels.
**Procedure**:
- You'll be asked to breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a machine that records lung function.
- You'll perform a series of breathing maneuvers, including deep breaths and forceful exhalations, according to the technician's instructions.
- Results are typically compared to predicted values based on age, height, sex, and ethnicity to assess lung function and identify any abnormalities.
PFTs are essential in diagnosing lung diseases, monitoring lung function over time, and guiding treatment plans to optimize respiratory health.