Of late, have you realized the symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing or cough? If they are not taking the name of going away, it makes sense to take the services of a professional. Your doctor will be in the best position to decide the further course of action. If he/she feels that there is nothing to worry and thus may suggest the use of some medicines to avert the prevailing symptoms.
However, in extreme situations when the doctor feels that an examination is required before heading any further, a Pulmonary Function Test may perhaps be the immediate recommendation. This article explains the inside deets of this imaging in detail that you should know.
What Is A Pulmonary Function Test?
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are simply lung tests to determine the functioning of the lungs. The wonderful side of these imaging procedures is that they are non-invasive, which means the technologist conducting the examination won’t cut your body. What’s more, they also won’t put any tools inside your body.
Why Are Pulmonary Function Tests Done?
As already stated before, the fundamental intent of this kind of imaging is to ascertain whether your lungs are working properly or not. Additionally, PFTs play a vital role to diagnose lung diseases such as:
- Asthma
A condition in which a person’s airways become inflamed, narrow, swell and produce extra mucus! As a result, it makes it all that complicated for the individual to breathe. Asthma can be minor and when ignored can be life-threatening.
- Chronic Bronchitis
Inflammation and irritation of bronchial tubes result in chronic bronchitis. The impacted individual may realize a persistent cough that lasts at least three months. This duration can even extend and when overlooked, the present symptoms may drastically worsen.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Shortness of breath, wheezing or a chronic cough are some of the symptoms realized by the individual suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Lung Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which the volume of cells grows beyond control. The fundamental causes of this deadly condition are smoking, exposure to harmful toxins and even family history.
- Thickened, stretched, or enlarged airways
- Weakness of the muscles in the chest
- And so on
How To Prepare For A Pulmonary Function Test?
If you have been suggested a Pulmonary Function Test, it is imperative to implement certain guidelines before heading towards the examination centre. Because PFT’s fundamental motive is to assess the true nature of your lungs and thus it becomes vital to pay heed to the instructions.
Your doctor will explain the examination in detail and what you can expect. The professional will also apprise you about the dos and don’ts. Should you have any confusion, it is advisable to clear it out right away.
Here is a list of instructions that you must follow to prepare for your pulmonary function test.
- Just in case you are already taking any sort of drugs, they must be taken before the evaluation. Additionally, these drugs must be in the knowledge of your doctor who would suggest the best means to take them on the day of examination.
- Don’t smoke before the test if you do so. This can play a deterrent in achieving accurate results. Rather you should discuss it with your doctor and they will tell you how long before the examination you should stop.
- The intake of alcohol should also be ditched before the examination. Overlooking this parameter may tamper with the accuracy of the outcome.
- On the day of the examination, maintain a safe distance from heavy meals.
- Steer clear of any sort of strenuous exercises at least 30 minutes before the imaging.
- Do you use a short-acting inhaler often? If yes, try not to employ it for 6 to 8 hours before the test. Additionally, if it is something that you cannot ditch, it should be informed to the technologist performing the examination. Moreover, you must also discuss the scenario with your treating doctor beforehand who might suggest a possible alternative to this inhaler.
- Try not to consume coffee, tea, or chocolate on the examination day. In simpler words: avoid anything that is brimming with caffeine.
- Last but certainly not least: be sure to wear comfy loose clothes to the test. Tighter clothing may obstruct the slick flow of your breathing, even when you are just sitting during the test.
Other Considerations
- You should avoid wearing jewelry that might affect breathing
- Wearing dentures or other removable dental appliances makes sense that will ensure that your mouth will adjust pretty well to the mouthpiece employed during the examination.
- During the examination, you will essentially need to undergo multiple exhalations. Therefore, it is advisable to rest for some time afterwards which will essentially make you lightheaded or winded.
Under What Circumstances Is A PFT Not Meant For You?
Your doctor won’t suggest a PFT under the following conditions:
- If you recently underwent eye surgery
- Surgery on your belly or chest
- When there is a prevalence of a certain form of heart condition
- Active tuberculosis or respiratory infection.
Final Words
The indispensability of PFTs cannot be simply ignored, especially when you are encompassed with lung issues. And if you are religiously scouring for the best imaging centre near me, Ontario Diagnostic Centres gets you covered.