Pulmonary Function Testing Specialist

Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine Our Services Pulmonary Function Testing

Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine Physicians & Pulmonologist located in Metairie, LA

Pulmonary function testing is a practical tool that can give you lots of information about the way your lungs work. Pulmonary specialist Andrea Espinoza, MD, FCCP, and the team at Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine in Metairie, Louisiana, provide pulmonary function testing in a serene and accessible environment to gather information about the condition affecting your lungs and how well your treatment is working. To find out if you or a loved one need pulmonary function testing, call Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine or book an appointment online today.

Pulmonary Function Testing Q&A

What is pulmonary function testing?

Pulmonary function testing is a noninvasive way to find out if your lungs are functioning properly. At Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine, the team uses pulmonary function testing for diagnostic purposes and to monitor certain conditions as you undergo treatment for them. The tests measure several different factors regarding your lungs, including their:

  • Volume
  • Air capacity
  • Flow rates
  • Gas exchange

After your pulmonary function test, the team helps you interpret your results and what they mean for your health. They can also help you compare your results to typical results for someone of the same age, sex, and race. 

Why do I need pulmonary function testing?

Several conditions affecting your lungs may require pulmonary function testing. At Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine, the team might use pulmonary testing to diagnose or monitor:

  • Asthma
  • Allergies
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Bronchitis
  • Lung cancer
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Lung fibrosis

With ongoing pulmonary function testing, the team analyzes your results over time to find out if a treatment is working and adjust your treatment plan if it isn’t. They can use the results of your tests right away to intervene in your treatment and improve your symptoms more effectively. 

How does pulmonary function testing work?

At Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine, the team uses several types of pulmonary function testing to gather information about how well your lungs work. They might use one or more of these tests throughout your diagnosis and treatment:

Spirometry

Spirometry is a test to measure how much air you inhale and exhale. During the test, you wear a mouthpiece and a nose clip to close your nose. The team may ask you to breathe normally, deeply, and rapidly. Then, they may give you medication to expand your airways and ask you to blow into the machine again.

Plethysmography

During plethysmography, you stand inside an airtight box and breathe into a mouthpiece. The test measures your lung volume.

Diffusion capacity testing

Diffusion capacity testing is a way to evaluate your alveoli or the small air sacs within your lungs. It can help your provider find out how well oxygen enters your bloodstream and carbon dioxide exits. During the test, you inhale various gases like helium and oxygen. 

To find out more about pulmonary function testing, book your appointment by phone or online at Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine today.