Diagnostic
Pulmonary Function Testing
Pulmonary Function Testing — most commonly spirometry –
measures how much air you can move and how fast.
What is Pulmonary Function Testing?
Pulmonary Function Testing— most commonly spirometry — measures how much air you can move and how fast. You breathe into a mouthpiece
through a series of simple, guided efforts. It’s quick, painless, and one of the most useful tests in lung medicine, telling us whether your airways are
narrowed and by how much.
Why is it done?
We use breathing tests to diagnose and track lung conditions and to see
how well treatment is working. It addresses conditions such as:
What it can find
Whether your airways are obstructed
How severe the obstruction is
Whether it improves with a bronchodilator
How your lungs change over time
Ready to Schedule, or Have Questions First?
Who is a candidate?
Ongoing shortness of breath or wheeze
A chronic cough
Known asthma or COPD that needs monitoring
Before certain surgeries or treatments
How to prepare
Avoid heavy meals right before the test
Hold your inhaler beforehand only if we ask
Avoid smoking for at least an hour prior
Wear loose, comfortable clothing
What to expect
01
Get comfortable
You sit, and we place a soft clip on your nose and a clean mouthpiece in place.
02
Guided breaths
You take a deep breath and blow out hard and long; the technologist coaches each effort.
03
A few repeats
We repeat to get consistent results — sometimes before and after a bronchodilator.
04
Done in 30–45 min
The test is effort-based but easy, and you can return to your day right away.
Results & next steps
Your physician interprets the numbers against expected values for your age, height, and sex and reviews them with you –
often the same visit – to confirm a diagnosis or adjust your plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does it hurt?
Not at all. The hardest part is blowing out as hard and as long as you can for a few efforts.
Should I take my inhaler first?
Sometimes we ask you to hold certain inhalers beforehand so we can measure your baseline. We’ll give you specific instructions when you schedule.