Who Needs Lung Function Tests?

People who have breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, may need lung function tests. These tests help find the cause of breathing problems. They're used to check for conditions such as asthma, lung tissue scarring, sarcoidosis, 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.

Diagnosing Lung Conditions

Your doctor will diagnose a lung condition based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test results.

Medical History

Your doctor will ask you questions, such as:

• Do you ever feel like you can't get enough air?
• Does your chest feel tight sometimes?
• Do you have periods of coughing or wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe)?
• Do you ever have chest pain?
• Can you walk or run as fast as other people your age?

Your doctor also will ask if you or anyone in your family has ever:

• Had asthma and/or allergies
• Had heart disease
• Smoked
• Traveled to places where you may have been exposed to tuberculosis
• Had a job that exposed you to dust, fumes, or particles (like asbestos)

Physical Exam

Your doctor will measure your heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. He or she also will listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope and feel your abdomen and limbs.

Your doctor will look for signs of heart or lung disease, or another disease that could cause your symptoms.

Lung and Heart Tests

Based on your medical history and physical exam, your doctor will decide what tests you need. A chest x ray usually is the first test done to find the cause of breathing problems. This test takes pictures of the organs and structures inside your chest.

Your doctor may do lung function tests to find out even more about how well your lungs work.

Your doctor also may do tests to check your heart, such as an EKG (electrocardiogram) or a stress test. An EKG detects and records your heart's electrical activity. A stress test shows how well your heart works during physical activity.