Pulmonary Spirometry

Pulmonary function tests are a group of tests that measure how well the lungs take in and release air and how well they move oxygen into the blood.

In a spirometry test, the patient breathes into a mouthpiece that is connected to an instrument called a spirometer. The spirometer records the amount and the rate of air that you breathe in and out over a period of time.

Pulmonary Spirometry tests are used to:

• Diagnose certain types of lung disease, including asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema
• Determine a cause for shortness of breath
• Measure whether exposure to contaminants at work affects lung function
• Assess the effect of medication
• Measure progress in disease treatment

Spirometry measures airflow. By measuring how much air you exhale, and how quickly, spirometry can evaluate a broad range of lung diseases.

Lung volume measures the amount of air in the lungs without forcibly blowing out. Some lung diseases can make the lungs contain too much air. Other lung diseases make the lungs scarred and smaller so that they contain too little air.

Testing the diffusion capacity (also called the DLCO) allows for an estimate of how well the lungs move oxygen from the air into the bloodstream.

For some of the test measurements, you can breathe normally and quietly. Other tests require forced inhalation or exhalation after a deep breath. Advanced Healthcare Center is pleased to provide to employers pulmonary spirometry testing for their employees. Please call our office for more information.