Lung function testing is performed to check how well the lungs are working, how much air they are able to hold, the speed at which they are able to move air in and out, and how effectively they are able to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Lung function testing is helpful in that it allows your doctor to properly diagnose disease in the lungs, as well as to assess the severity of any conditions you may have, and to evaluate the success rate of treatments and medications.
The lung capacity test is designed to test how much air the lungs can hold, and at what rate air can move in and out of the lungs. In order to undergo the test, your doctor will ask you to breathe into a piece of equipment that is able to collect and record information. This information can then be printed onto a chart for your doctor to easily read and assess.
A flow-volume lung function test can measure a number of factors. These include:
Lung function tests can be used for the following reasons: