Pulmonary Function Testing 

Cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing are very common symptoms. There are several tests that can help determine the exact cause of these symptoms. Coupled with a detailed medical history and a physical examination, these tests help us determine the root cause of your symptoms and guide the selection of the most effective treatments.

Lung function tests, also called pulmonary function tests or PFTs, check how well your lungs are functioning. These tests determine how much air your lungs can hold and how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs. It can detect airway obstruction, a common feature of asthma, and whether such obstruction resolves after inhaling asthma medications, called bronchodilators (such as albuterol).

In cases where spirometry test results are inconclusive, a methacholine or mannitol challenge test may also be recommended by your asthma specialist. During a methacholine or mannitol challenge, you inhale increasing amounts of either methacholine or mannitol. After each dose, breathing tests will be performed to measure any resulting changes in your lung function. People with asthma are more sensitive to the agents and a positive test confirms the diagnosis of asthma.

In some cases, more detailed pulmonary function tests are needed. Such tests, commonly called ‘complete PFTs’ require specialized equipment and may require a referral to a local resource.

While allergic airway inflammation is known to be the major underlying cause of asthma, there are few methods of measuring it. Patients with allergic airway inflammation generally have higher than normal levels of nitric oxide (NO) in their exhaled breath. By measuring the concentration of NO in an exhaled breath (fractional exhaled nitric oxide or FeNO), we can evaluate allergic airway inflammation in patients with underlying asthma.

While various breathing tests are important ways in determining the cause of cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath they are also very valuable tools to track your condition over time and ensure that the treatments you are using are delivering the results you expect.

The Allergy Partners Difference

As the nation’s largest medical practice solely dedicated to the treatment of asthma and allergies, Allergy Partners will provide you and your family with a personalized treatment plan that enables you to enjoy life more comfortably and to breathe more easily.

Four Steps to Relief

  1. Planning Your First Visit

    Schedule an appointment at your local office and fill out our pre-registration and medical history forms to help minimize any wait time when you arrive.

  2. Your First Visit

    Your initial visit will consist of a consultation, review of your medical history and a comprehensive exam to build a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.

  3. Diagnostics and Testing

    We may complete one or more tests to better understand the cause of your symptoms. Common tests include skin testing, pulmonary testing, and blood testing.

  4. Treatment

    Following the evaluation and testing, we’ll provide a comprehensive diagnosis and implement a personalized treatment plan that will deliver relief.

Ready to Find Relief?