What to Expect During Your Pulmonary Function Test

Pulmonary function tests (PFT) gauge how efficiently your lungs work. A PFT is noninvasive and simple, but it can leave you feeling tired. Here’s what you can expect before, during, and after your respiratory health check.

Medical testing can always carry a level of concern, particularly if this is your first time experiencing a particular test. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are painless and safe while providing valuable information about your lung function.

At Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC in Monroe, New Jersey, we specialize in all aspects of pulmonary medicine, so we’re your go-to choice when it comes to PFTs and evaluating your breathing efficiency. Today, we help you prepare for what to expect during your PFT.

The scope of a PFT

A PFT groups several breathing tests together to create an overall picture of your lung function. The three main measures of performance include:

How much air your lungs hold
How quickly air moves in and out of your lungs
How efficiently air transfers from the lungs to the bloodstream

Among many reasons why we may suggest a PFT, some of the most common are:

Shortness of breath
Persistent coughing or wheezing
Monitoring a known breathing condition, like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and others
Testing lung function to evaluate your suitability ahead of a surgical procedure

We discuss your case with you so you understand why you’re being tested and we prepare you for the PFT procedure itself.

Before your appointment

On the day of your PFT, don’t smoke and eat lightly to enable deep breathing. Wear comfortable, loose clothing that won’t restrict chest expansion.

If you use respiratory medications and/or inhalers, we give you instructions for their use ahead of your appointment. Arrive 15 minutes ahead of your appointment to complete any paperwork we may have for you.

During your test

We explain each step as you proceed through the test, starting with the nose clip you wear to breathe through the mouth. We measure airflow using a mouthpiece that you breathe through.

Individual testing throughout your PFT can include:

The deepest breaths you can take
Complete, forceful exhalation
Repeating certain breathing tasks to establish accuracy and averages
Portions of the test conducted with normal breathing
Bronchodilators that some patients may receive for comparison between normal and medicated breathing

A typical PFT takes between 30 and 60 minutes.

After your test

For most patients, daily life proceeds normally after your appointment. There are few effects from the PFT, if you have any at all.

Some patients may experience lightheadedness, resulting from repeated deep breathing, but this typically passes quickly when normal breathing resumes. We evaluate your results and report back what they mean for your condition, often in a follow-up appointment at a later date.

PFTs help us catch respiratory conditions in their early stages, and measure the severity of breathing impairment. We can monitor existing conditions, checking for any deterioration of your condition over time, or to ensure that treatments are working.

Contact Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Group, LLC, by phone or online to schedule testing and follow-up with Dr. Andrew Freedman and his team today.