Patients are often referred to one of our pulmonolgists from their primary care or other specialty care physician. 

Our pulmonologists offer full-service pulmonary consultations and treatments, in addition to pulmonary function testing (often called PFT’s) as a physician referral (ordered by another physician) as well as on their own patients.  If the pulmonary function tests are ordered by another physician, one of our pulmonologists will read the results and  communicate those results to the ordering physician. 

Pulmonary function testing provides a pulmonologist with a lot of information about your lungs and how they are functioning.  The pulmonologist will review your test results to determine the quantity of the air you breathe with each breath, how efficiently you move air in and out of your lungs and how well your lungs deliver oxygen to the bloodstream.

During the testing, a trained respiratory therapist will ask you to breathe into an instrument called a spirometer.  Sometimes you will be asked to breathe normally and quietly and at other times you will be asked to force the breath into the spirometer and exhale with a deep breath. 

Pulmonary function tests are especially helpful to help diagnose lung problems such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis.  It is also used to help find the cause of unexplained shortness of breath, a chronic cough or sleep related breathing problems.  Your physician may also want to review your pulmonary function tests results in order to render an opinion on your fitness for a surgical procedure or to assess the effect any prescription medications you may be taking.

There is some minor preparation necessary prior to pulmonary function testing:
1) It is recommended that you do not eat a heavy meal before the test. 
2) If you are a smoker, do not smoke for 4-6 hours before the test.
3) If you use bronchodilators or any inhaled medications, your physician will give you specific instructions. 

Because you are forcing breaths during some of the test, you may experience some temporary shortness of breath or light headedness during the test.  You will be breathing through a tight-fitting mouthpiece and you’ll have nose clips. 

The normal value of a pulmonary function test will be based on your age, height, ethnicity and gender.  Results are given as a percentage.  A value is usually considered abnormal if it is less than 80% of your predicted value.  Your physician will talk with you about the meaning of our percentage value.