Overview
Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) is a group of tests that check how well your lungs work.
They include spirometry, which measures how much and how quickly you breathe out; lung volume testing, which measures how much air the lungs can hold; and diffusion capacity testing, which checks how effectively gases pass from the lungs into the blood.
At Sarvodaya Hospital, the Centre for Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine provides lung function testing. Patients considering a PFT in Delhi NCR can discuss their symptoms and previous reports with a specialist, who recommends the appropriate tests.
Why is a Pulmonary Function Test Required?
Different types of Respiratory Function Test assess airflow, lung capacity and gas transfer. The results help doctors investigate symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing and persistent coughing.
Doctors may recommend testing for the following reasons:
- Suspected Asthma: Asthma causes the airways to become inflamed and narrow, which can restrict airflow. A PFT for asthma diagnosis may check airflow before and after the patient inhales a medicine that opens the airways.
- Suspected Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes persistent difficulty moving air out of the lungs. A PFT for COPD helps assess airflow obstruction.
- Possible Lung Scarring: Scarring can make the lungs stiff and reduce the amount of air they can hold. Lung volume and gas transfer tests can help doctors assess how much the lungs have been affected.
- Monitoring Lung Conditions: Doctors may repeat PFTs to check whether lung function has improved, remained stable or worsened. The results can help them decide whether to adjust the treatment.
- Planning for Surgery: Doctors may use a PFT to check whether the lungs can cope with surgery and anaesthesia, especially before lung surgery or when the patient has an existing lung condition.
Pulmonary Function Test Procedure
The exact procedure depends on the type of lung function test recommended by the doctor.
Spirometry usually follows these steps:
Assessment and Preparation
The team checks your recent health, records your height and reviews your medicines. Tell them about any chest infection, recent surgery or heart problem. Follow the testing centre’s instructions about smoking, exercise, meals and inhalers. Avoid a large meal before the test, and do not stop prescribed medicines unless the doctor asks you to.
Breathing Through the Spirometer
You sit upright and place your lips tightly around a mouthpiece connected to a spirometer, a machine that records airflow and the amount of air you breathe out. A soft nose clip prevents air from escaping through your nose. The test does not require anaesthesia or sedation.
After the test, the doctor compares your results with your symptoms, medical history and the expected values for your age, height and sex. This Pulmonary Function Test interpretation helps determine whether you need further assessment or treatment.
Bronchodilator Testing and Results
The doctor may ask you to inhale a bronchodilator, a medicine that relaxes the muscles around the airways. After a short wait, you repeat the Spirometry test. The doctor compares both sets of results to check whether the medicine improves airflow.
After the test, a healthcare professional checks that you feel well enough to leave. Your doctor reviews the results alongside your symptoms and medical history and compares them with the expected lung function values for someone of your age, height and sex.
Who Is a Suitable Candidate for a Pulmonary Function Test?
Testing may be required for people with persistent coughing, wheezing, unexplained breathlessness or a condition that requires regular lung monitoring. Doctors may also use it to determine whether a change seen on a chest scan has affected lung function.
Patients should follow the instructions and make repeated forceful breathing efforts. Children who can perform these steps may also undergo testing. The doctor may postpone the test during a chest infection or for a period after certain operations, a heart attack or a stroke.
Benefits of a Pulmonary Function Test
The test provides information about airflow, lung capacity and gas transfer that can support several aspects of care:
- Clearer Assessment: The results may show whether breathing symptoms are related to reduced airflow or reduced lung capacity.
- Treatment Guidance: Test results can help doctors determine whether the current treatment is working or needs to be adjusted.
- Surgical Planning: The results can help doctors assess lung-related risks before certain operations.
Doctors interpret PFT results alongside symptoms, medical history and other test findings.
Technology and Infrastructure
Sarvodaya Hospital’s Centre for Pulmonology provides PFT and spirometry facilities to assess airflow and lung capacity.
Other available tests include diffusion capacity testing for gas transfer, fractional exhaled nitric oxide testing for airway inflammation and the six-minute walk test for breathing, exercise capacity and the oxygen level in the blood during physical activity.
Care After a Pulmonary Function Test
Most people can resume their usual activities after routine testing.
Instructions may differ depending on your symptoms and any medicines given during the appointment:
- Restart Medicines as Directed: Ask when to resume any inhaler if temporarily withheld for testing.
- Rest if Lightheaded: Remain seated until dizziness settles, and inform the doctor if it continues.
- Report Significant Symptoms: Seek prompt medical attention for persistent breathing difficulty, chest pain or fainting.
What Happens After an Abnormal Lung Function Test Result?
An abnormal result may show reduced airflow, reduced lung capacity or difficulty transferring gases into the blood. It does not confirm a specific disease on its own. The doctor considers your symptoms, medical history and performance during the test when interpreting the result.
The doctor may repeat the test, recommend another lung function test or arrange a chest scan. If the results help identify a lung condition, the doctor plans treatment according to its cause and severity.
Why Choose Sarvodaya Hospital for a Pulmonary Function Test?
Sarvodaya Hospital’s Centre for Pulmonology provides specialist assessment, lung function testing and care for respiratory conditions.
Depending on the patient’s symptoms, care may include:
- Specialist Assessment: An experienced pulmonologist in Faridabad can review breathing symptoms and determine which lung function tests are appropriate.
- Diagnostic Testing: Patients enquiring about a Pulmonary Function Test in Faridabad can confirm preparation instructions and appointment availability.
- Condition Management: Doctors use the test results along with the patient’s symptoms and medical history to plan or adjust treatment for conditions such as asthma and COPD.
