Lung Function Testing

Lung Function Testing Overview

If you are experiencing symptoms that may be caused by a lung disease, a medical provider may recommend you undergo lung function testing. At Hattiesburg Clinic, we offer access to comprehensive lung function testing to help determine how well your lungs are functioning, which can help us make a diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan.

Why You Might Need Lung Function Testing

Lung function testing, also called pulmonary function testing, may be recommended for several different reasons:

You have risk factors for a lung disease, such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis or asthma.

You are experiencing symptoms of a lung disease, such as shortness of breath, wheezing or a cough.

You have a lung disease and require monitoring of your lung function to determine how well you are responding to treatment.

Lung function testing may also be recommended if you require surgery that may impact your lung function. Testing is done beforehand to determine how well your lungs are working and their capacity.

What to Expect from Lung Function Testing

There are several lung function tests that each gauge your lung function in slightly different ways:

Lung diffusion capacity testing measures how well your lungs deliver oxygen to your blood.
Lung volume testing, also called body plethysmography, measures the amount of air your lungs can hold, as well as how much air remains in your lungs after you exhale.
Spirometry measures how much air you breathe and how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. This is the most common lung function test.

Lung function tests are painless, though they may sometimes cause lightheadedness. During spirometry, for example, you will need to blow as hard as you can into a tube connected to the spirometer, which can lead to lightheadedness or fatigue.

In some cases, pulmonary exercise tests may also be used to check lung function. These tests, which include a six-minute walk test, evaluate how well your lungs work when you are physically active. These tests may also be paired with a blood test called an arterial blood gas test, or ABG.

Choose Hattiesburg Clinic

The team of board-certified specialists at Hattiesburg Clinic has years of experience in diagnosing lung conditions such as asthma. Lung function tests help us formulate conclusive and accurate diagnoses and guide treatment, allowing us to identify whether an ongoing treatment is working well. While many clinics offer only spirometry, patients of Hattiesburg Clinic can access a comprehensive panel of lung function tests.