What not to do before a pulmonary function test

A pulmonary function test (PFT), or lung function test, is a non-invasive test that measures how well your lungs work. Several types of PFTs measure various aspects of lung function, including how well you move air in and out of your lungs, how much air your lungs can hold, and how well your lungs absorb oxygen and move it into your bloodstream.

Healthcare providers order pulmonary function tests to help diagnose and monitor lung conditions.

Pulmonary function technicians (respiratory therapists who specialize in diagnostic testing) perform PFTs to help pulmonologists (doctors who specialize in respiratory conditions) diagnose and treat respiratory disorders and lung conditions.

Purpose 

Pulmonary function tests are important for diagnosing and managing respiratory conditions that affect your lungs and/or airways, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD (a group of chronic, progressive lung diseases that limit airflow to the lungs and cause difficulty breathing).

Healthcare providers use PFTs to:

• Diagnose lung condition
  how is a pulmonary lung function test done
  how is a pulmonary test performed