What correctly is a lung function test?
A lung function test assesses how well a patient’s lungs and airways work. The lung function test Australia measures the effective amount of air the lungs take in and out. Spirometry, the precise term for a lung function test, is also known as pulmonary or respiratory function tests.
Why is a lung function test required?
- A doctor may typically order one or more lung function tests for their ill patients for:
- An existing lung condition– a doctor may typically order a lung function test to carefully examine the abnormal condition of their patient’s lungs and if it is progressively improving and responding favorably to standard therapies and proper treatments.
- Possible direct exposure to certain hazardous substances, whether from a patient’s frequented environment or at their principal workplace, that are linked to or inadvertently cause rare lung diseases.
- Patients who noticeably experience regular adverse symptoms related to lung disease.
- Patients being prepared for surgery.
- Suspected adverse lung conditions.
A lung function test helps accurately diagnose the following lung diseases and abnormal conditions in the lungs:
- Profound weakness of the chest wall muscles.
- Allergies, acute asthma, and emphysema.
- Asbestosis (a detrimental lung condition caused by direct exposure to asbestos dust and fibers).
- Lung fibrosis and pulmonary tumors.
- Respiratory infections.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Sarcoidosis (the active inflammation of the lungs and other bodily tissues).
- Scleroderma (a specific disease that detrimentally affects connective tissues).
- Lung cancers, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis.
The lung function test: What it accurately assesses and precisely measures.
A lung function test typically represents a noninvasive test that shows how well a patient’s lungs are naturally working.
It carefully measures their lung volume, functional capacity, effective airflow rates, and gas exchange which aids their healthcare provider in accurately diagnosing and correctly deciding on the most satisfactory treatment for their lung disorders.
The two distinct types of lung disorders that can cause problems in the lungs are:
- Obstructive difficulties- airway resistance which causes a decreased flow of air out of the lungs.
- Restrictive difficulties- airflow problems and low lung volume capacity due to weak lung tissues and chest muscles.
A lung function test typically measures:
- The VT or Lung Tidal Volume- the amount of air inhaled or exhaled during normal breathing.
- The MV or Minute Volume- the amount of air exhaled per minute.
- The VC or Vital Capacity- the total volume of air exhaled after a patient has inhaled as much air as they can.
- The FRC or Functional Residual Capacity- the amount of air left in a patient’s lungs after normal exhalation.
- The Residual Volume- the amount of air left in a patient’s lungs after exhaling as much as they can.
- The Total Lung capacity- the total volume of air in the lungs when filled with as much air as possible.
- The FVC or Forced Vital Capacity- the amount of air forcefully and quickly exhaled after inhaling as much air as possible.
- The FEV or Forced Expiration Volume- the amount of air that expired during the first three seconds of an FVC test.
- The FEF or Forced Expiration Flow- the rate of flow during the middle half of an FVC test, and
- The PEFR or Peak Expiration Flow Rate- is the fastest rate at which air can be forced out of the lungs.
The lung capacity test results are carefully compared to previous test results and if abnormal values are measured or drastically changed other tests may be reasonably required to accurately determine lung function.
The possible adverse reactions in patients to a lung function test?
For the necessary majority of patients, a lung function test is safe. However, since a lung function test will naturally require deep inhalations and exhalations it can quickly cause lightheadedness or dizziness in some sensitive people. There is, in addition, an increased risk to patients that have recently had a heart attack, surgery, a severe chest infection, or existing heart disease.
Properly preparing for a lung function test.
Patients must promptly notify their doctor if they are ordinarily taking specific medications as some medications can adversely affect the test results and they may be asked to temporarily stop taking them before a lung function test.
Here constitute some key steps that a patient may be typically required to do before a lung function test:
- No caffeine intake– caffeine naturally opens up airways which can adversely affect test results.
- No strenuous exercise- strenuous exercise is to be avoided at least hours before a lung function test.
- No heavy meals– a full stomach can forcibly prevent the lungs from properly filling up.
- Keep dentures in– patients will routinely be urged by their doctor to typically wear their dentures to the test to make sure their mouth can fit tightly around the mouthpiece.
- No smoking– smoking is to be avoided at least an hour before a lung function test.
- To typically wear loose and comfortable clothing– tight clothing can unduly restrict proper breathing and typically create false test results.
Why might someone be required to voluntarily undergo a lung function test?
A lung function test is routinely used to check the lung function of patients before their needed surgery. It is also routinely used before a medical procedure is carefully performed in patients that typically suffer existing lung or heart problems, those that are actively smoking, or patients that typically have other health conditions that may adversely affect their lung health.
It is also routinely performed on people predominantly exposed to certain hazardous environments that may adversely affect pulmonary health like factory workers to ensure good employee health. A lung function test naturally makes it easy for the appropriate health professionals to accurately assess the effectiveness of the treatments used for asthma, emphysema, and other chronic lung problems.
There realistically are many legitimate reasons why a doctor may properly require a lung function test. A lung function test is sometimes performed in healthy people as an essential part of their routine physical examinations.
It greatly aids in the accurate diagnosis and effective management of different lung problems and typically allows doctors to carefully make a more accurate and highly detailed assessment of their patient’s overall lung health.
