Lung Function Test

You might benefit from a lung function test if you develop symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, or a chronic cough. Reagan Medical Center has offices in Lawrenceville, Dacula, Suwanee, and Johns Creek, Georgia, where the experienced team performs on-site lung function testing for patient convenience. These procedures help diagnose asthma, chronic bronchitis, and many other lung disorders. Call your nearest Reagan Medical Center office for further information about lung function tests or schedule a consultation online today.

What is a lung function test?

A lung function test assesses your breathing ability and how well your lungs work. Numerous procedures are available, including:

Spirometry

Spirometry measures the air you inhale and exhale and how much air your lungs contain. You wear nose plugs and breathe into a mouthpiece that connects to a spirometer. Your provider may ask you to take deep breaths in and out and exhale as hard and as fast as possible.

Plethysmography

Plethysmography measures the quantities of air in your lungs at different stages when you breathe in and out. It’s similar to spirometry, but you sit in a clear booth so your provider can measure pressure and volume changes.

Gas diffusion study

Gas diffusion studies analyze the oxygen and other gasses going from your lungs into your blood. Using a mouthpiece, you inhale a safe level of carbon monoxide.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)

CPETs assess heart, lung, and muscle function during exercise. You wear electrodes attached to machines measuring your heartbeat, blood oxygen levels, and blood pressure, then exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle.

Methacholine challenge

This test measures airway narrowing or constriction, helping to assess patients for asthma. You inhale doses of methacholine — a drug that narrows the airways — and then complete a breathing test after each dose.

When should I undergo a lung function test?

The Reagan Medical Center team might recommend a lung function test if you experience breathing disorder symptoms, such as:

• Trouble breathing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chronic cough
• Excessive mucus production
• Difficulty clearing mucus
• Painful breathing
• Coughing up blood

Your risk of lung disease will be higher if you live or work somewhere with high pollution levels, suffer toxin exposure, or have a family history of pulmonary disorders. Unhealthy habits like smoking, insufficient exercise, and excess body weight significantly increase your chances of developing a lung problem.  

What conditions does a lung function test diagnose?

Lung function tests detect the following conditions:

• Bronchiectasis (widened airways that affect coughing and encourage mucus buildup)
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Asthma
• Allergies
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Respiratory infections
• Sleep apnea
• Pneumonia
• Asbestosis (disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers)
• Sarcoidosis (inflammatory lung disease)
• Lung fibrosis
• Pleural disease
• Restricted airway

Tumors, scarring, inflammation, scoliosis (abnormal spinal curvature), and other conditions can all restrict the airways.

Call Reagan Medical Center if you experience symptoms of pulmonary disease or schedule a consultation today using the online booking form.