As we mentioned in our section about Pulmonary Function Testing or PFT’s, these tests allow your doctor to measure how well your lungs are functioning at the moment. This includes how well you are able to breathe, and the overall effectiveness of your lungs to disperse oxygen to the rest of your body.

Generally, Pulmonary Function Testing is performed to judge the performance of the lungs for the following reasons.

• If you are exhibiting symptoms of poor lung function.
• In order to assess your lung function prior to having any type of surgery (moderate to major) or procedure.
• To monitor the performance of your lungs if you suffer from certain chronic respiratory issues such as asthma or COPD – otherwise known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• If you have been exposed to certain substances in the environment – at home or at work.

Two Types of Pulmonary Function Testing

At Citiwide we offer some of the most thorough, complete pulmonary lung function testing available across New York City and Long Island. The two main types of PFT’s we offer include:

• Spirometry Testing

  Spirometry is a form of pulmonary function testing that measures the amount of air patients are able to breath in and out. For this test, patients will need to sit in front of a machine and will have to wear a fitted mouthpiece. It’s important that the mouthpiece fits snugly so that all the air you breathe goes into the machine – and we are able to get the most precise readings. The patient will also be likely to wear a nose clip to keep you from breathing air out through your nose. The respiratory specialist from Citiwide will instruct the patient on the proper method of breathing for the test, in order to achieve the best and most accurate results.

  Patients will be asked to breathe in and out, as deeply and as quickly as they can – for several seconds. In some cases, patients will also be asked to breathe in a specific type of medication that will help to open up the airways. This will allow us to see if the patient’s lung function was affected by the medication.

• Diffusion Capacity Testing

  Diffusion capacity testing is another form of PFT, in which we will be able to evaluate how well the alveoli perform. The alveoli are small air sacks within the lungs. During the test, the patient will be asked to breathe in certain types of gases including oxygen, helium, or carbon dioxide. In addition, there may also be asked to breathe in a “tracer gas” for one breath. The machine can help detect when you breathe this gas out, and how well your lungs are able to transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the bloodstream. Using this complete set of pulmonary function tests, we will be able accurately judge the performance of your lungs, and provide you with an overall better picture of your respiratory health. For more information, or to schedule testing for yourself, be sure to contact Citiwide Mobile Testing today.