Tired of Breathing Troubles: Pulmonary Function Testing Can Help

Living with asthma can range from a relatively minor inconvenience to a life-threating issue, depending on your situation. At Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group, we want to help our patients not only get better but learn about what’s been making them sick. One of the options that may work for you is our pulmonary function testing. Read on to learn more about it and then contact us at 805-658-9500 to learn more.

Pulmonary function can help diagnose asthma

There are several reasons that we often recommend pulmonary function. One is that it can help diagnose the problem. In many cases, it’s not clear if a person is dealing with an allergy, an asthma attack, or even an immune system issue. We can provide testing that gives us the information we need to see exactly what the problem is. After all, no doctor can accurately treat you if they don’t have accurate information about what the issue is.

This testing can help us narrow down treatment options and ensure they’re working

Another important function of this testing is that it helps us narrow down the treatment options. The reality is that asthma isn’t the same in everyone. As a result, we may need to look at a few treatment options and decide which one is best. The results of a pulmonary function test can give us some insight into which treatment to start with – and further testing can also show whether or not the first line of treatment is working or tell us if we should make adjustments.

There are several test options

The most common type of pulmonary function test we typically perform is the spirometry test. We often start with it because it’s very easy on you and it’s easy for us to read. It’s as simple as having you breathe into a mouthpiece. The machine will then note how much air is going into and coming out of your longs, and it will measure the speed it’s moving at.

In some cases, a lung volume measurement test may be requested, or even a diffusion capacity test. These tests are a little more specialized and will give us more information about how much your lungs are capable of holding and how effectively they’re moving oxygen into your bloodstream. Every patient is different so the right test for you may vary.

We can suggest treatment based on the results of your tests

Once the tests are complete and we’ve had a chance to review the results, we can suggest the right treatment plan based on the level of breathing impairment you’re experiencing. The treatment we recommend will also take into consideration any other medications you may be on. You can trust our experienced staff to offer the best treatments, to monitor your case, and to check to ensure they’re working.

Our goal is to improve the quality of your life. Are you ready to get started? Contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500.