Lung function test

Hi, i was woundering if anyone could tell what to expect at a lung function test and what the results could show and why they r used.

Thanks

Chloe

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Hi Duckie,

Usually you'll be asked to breath out into a tube a bit like a peak flow meter tube, but with a long flexible tube attaching it to a machine. They'll probably ask you to do a few short sharp breaths out like a peak flow, and also some longer breaths when they'll ask you to try to empty your lungs completely. They might want to do other tests too - it depends what your doctor has specifically requested. They might ask you to try not to take your reliever inhaler beforehand and then give you a dose either of the inhaler or a neb after the tests, then repeat them.

The tests aren't usually painful but a lot of people find doing them makes them quite out of breath - but don't worry about it because they will usually be sensitive to that and let you stop and have a break if you need to.

Lung function tests are done to try to give a measure of how badly your asthma is affecting you at the moment - they measure peak flow but also other measurements that give a more sensitive picture of how your lungs are doing. The docs can then repeat the tests at a later date, eg after they've given you a new medication, and see how things have changed. The tests are also done to rule out other problems, as different conditions give different patterns on the tests.

Hope this helps - please don't worry about it, it's usually quite a simple test.

Em H

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Thank u for the reply, i am ess worried nox

xchloex