Your Local Specialists for Pulmonary Disease Serving Salem, Oregon and the Willamette Valley

A pulmonary function test measures how well you are breathing. There are different types of breathing tests that can be done during pulmonary function testing. They include spirometry, lung volumes and diffusing capacity. The results of pulmonary function testing can help your doctor find the best treatment plan for you.

 

Spirometry is the most common type of pulmonary function or breathing test.  This test measures how much air you can breathe in and out of your lungs, as well as how easy and fast you can the blow the air out of your lungs.

 

Lung volume testing is another commonly performed lung function test. It is more precise than spirometry and measures the volume of air in the lungs, including the air that remains at the end of a normal breath. Lung volume tests are the most accurate way to measure how much air your lungs can hold.

 

Lung diffusion capacity assesses how well oxygen gets into the blood from the air you breathe

Pulse oximetry estimates oxygen levels in your blood. For this test, a probe will be placed on your finger or another skin surface such as your ear.