Pulmonary function testing determines how well your lungs are functioning. This type of testing will help a doctor determine how much air your lungs can hold and how fast the air can be inhaled and exhaled through the respiratory system. Pulmonary function testing can take a few different forms, but there are two primary types of pulmonary function testing that is used by allergists to diagnose and treat asthma.
Types of Pulmonary Function Testing
If your doctor suspects that you have asthma, to find out whether or not that asthma is caused or made worse by allergies, they may want to do one of two types of pulmonary function testing. The most common type is spirometry, in which you take a deep breath and blow into a sensor that measures the amount of air your lungs can hold, as well as how fast you inhale or exhale. The other type of pulmonary function test is a FeNO test, or exhaled nitric oxide test, which determines how much lung inflammation is present. This can be important in determining how well asthma treatments are working. [Read More]
