People who have breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, may need lung function tests. These tests help find the cause of breathing problems.
Doctors use lung function tests to help diagnose conditions such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lung tissue), and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Lung function tests also are used to check the extent of damage caused by conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis. Also, these tests may be used to check how well treatments, such as asthma medicines, are working.
Your doctor will diagnose a lung condition based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and test results.
Your doctor will ask you questions, such as:
Your doctor also will ask whether you or anyone in your family has ever:
Your doctor will check 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 may be causing your symptoms.
Based on your medical history and physical exam, your doctor will recommend tests. A chest x ray usually is the first test done to find the cause of a breathing problem. 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.
Clinical trials are research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for humans. To find clinical trials that are currently underway for Lung Function Tests, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
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