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Questions and Answers
What is the main purpose of lung function tests?
What is the main purpose of lung function tests?
What is the name of the medicine that opens the airways and is used in lung function tests?
What is the name of the medicine that opens the airways and is used in lung function tests?
What does spirometry measure?
What does spirometry measure?
What is the name of the test that helps assess inflammation in the airways?
What is the name of the test that helps assess inflammation in the airways?
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What is the purpose of bronchial provocation or 'trigger' tests?
What is the purpose of bronchial provocation or 'trigger' tests?
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What does diffusion capacity measure?
What does diffusion capacity measure?
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Study Notes
Lung Function Tests
- Lung function tests, also known as pulmonary function tests, measure how well you inhale and exhale air from your lungs.
- These tests detect how well you breathe in and out, and measure breathing.
Purpose of Lung Function Tests
- Tests are often done before and after inhaling a medication known as a bronchodilator to see if lung function improves.
- If lung function improves significantly with a bronchodilator, the patient likely has asthma.
Common Lung Function Tests
- Spirometry: measures how much you breathe in and out, and how fast you breathe out.
- FeNO test (exhaled nitric oxide): assesses inflammation in the airways.
- Bronchial provocation or "trigger" tests: measures if lungs are sensitive to certain irritants or triggers, such as methacholine or histamine.
- Diffusion Capacity: measures how well oxygen flows from the lungs into your blood, and poor diffusion indicates damage to the lungs.
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Description
Measure lung function and detect breathing problems with these tests. Learn about the purpose and uses of lung function tests.
