The lungs are responsible for gas exchange within the body. It draws the oxygen that is vital for humans from the air and releases the metabolic waste product carbon dioxide. A lung function test can determine whether the organ can fully perform its tasks.
Here you will find further information and selected doctors for a lung function test.
A lung function test is intended to determine whether the lungs and airways are fully functional. Diseases such as asthma or COPD can be detected at an early stage before a definitive diagnosis is made.
COPD is the abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This refers to a series of diseases that are characterized by
during physical exertion. This clinical picture mainly includes
The latter is the result of various lung diseases, which ultimately lead to the alveoli becoming over-inflated.
The lung function test plays an important role in diagnosis in the early stages. Later, it can be used to monitor the progression of a lung disease. Among other things, it can be used to determine whether the therapies initiated are having the desired effect.
In addition, further preventive measures can be taken once test results on
of the lungs are available.
The position and anatomy of the lungs in the human body © yodiyim | AdobeStock
A pulmonary function test is performed when the patient has
as symptoms. Patients who have been smoking for many years should also undergo regular lung function tests. This allows possible secondary diseases of smoking to be detected and treated at an early stage.
Typical findings for which a lung function test is carried out include
In addition, a lung function test is part of various aptitude tests, for example in the field of sports medicine and occupational medicine. A lung function test is also carried out before operations in order to better assess the risk for the patient.
There are various test procedures for checking lung function. Although they differ in terms of procedure and details, they have a common goal: the primary aim is to examine the patency of the bronchial system. This is where disorders of lung function occur most frequently.
Disease patterns such as bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease do not affect the lungs directly. Instead, they damage the bronchial system.
Blood gases - i.e. the oxygen that enters the body's bloodstream via the lungs - are only examined in special cases. This applies, for example, to patients who are on mechanical ventilation.
Performing a spirometry © Victor Koldunov | AdobeStock
The most commonly used procedure is spirometry. This involves measuring the airflow during breathing. This is generally carried out during a phase of resting breathing, but maximum exhalation and inhalation are also required.
During spirometry, the patient breathes in and out through a mouthpiece. The nose is closed by a clamp.
Because the air flow is examined during this procedure, other values can be measured in addition to the peak flow. In addition to the resting respiratory volume, these include the reserve volume and the vital capacity. The latter is an important parameter for estimating the functionality of the lungs.
In spirometry, the one-second capacity is often determined. This refers to the volume of air that the patient can exhale within one second. The vital capacity can be determined as follows: The patient exhales maximally after a phase of resting breathing and then maximally inhales. The difference between the two is the vital capacity.
The results of spirometry can also be displayed graphically. A so-called flow-volume curve is usually used for this. The flow of the respiratory flow, which is shown on the X-axis, is plotted against the volume on the Y-axis. This graph makes it relatively easy to identify pathological changes in the lungs and bronchial system.
In principle, spirometry can be carried out by any general practitioner. However, if the measured values deviate from the norm, it is advisable to consult a specialist in pneumology. They will be better able to interpret the measured values.
In addition to spirometry, three other procedures are available to test lung function.
Whole-body plethysmography is another common method for testing lung function. In this procedure, breathing resistance is measured. Unfortunately, whole-body plethysmography cannot examine the air pressure in the air sacs.
Whole-body plethysmography is carried out in a cabin that looks similar to a telephone booth. There is a closed volume of air inside the cabin. This method is considerably more complex than spirometry.
The advantage of whole-body plethysmography is that expansions or compressions of the chest can also be measured. A pressure sensor measures changes in air pressure in the cabin resulting from changes in air pressure in the chest and alveoli.
Other values can also be derived by measuring the air volume. These include, for example, the maximum possible volume of air in the lungs or the residual volume that cannot be exhaled.
In order to achieve really concrete results, spirometry should be carried out in addition to this method.
Oscillometry can be used to determine resistance by blowing puffs of air into the lungs.
The shutter method, on the other hand, assumes that the pressure is equalized automatically when the airways between the lungs and mouth are briefly closed. However, in the case of respiratory disease, this method works less and less well as the disease progresses.
In addition, the residual volume cannot be determined with these alternative methods. They are therefore only used in relatively rare cases.
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