What you need to know about
Asthma treatment
Asthma screening
Pulmonary (lung) function testing is often included in an allergy evaluation to determine if your lung function capacity has been compromised. State-of-the-art, computerized lung function testing is available for adults and children as young as three years old. Specialized lung function testing is also offered for adults and children with exercise- induced symptoms and chronic cough syndrome.
Lung function tests
Spirometry testing measures how much and how quickly you can move air out of your lungs. You’ll breathe into a mouthpiece attached to a recording device called a spirometer.
Inhalation challenge tests may be performed to measure how your airways respond to substances that may cause asthma or wheezing. The tests may determine the effect of chemicals such as histamine or methacholine on your airways. These evaluations are also called provocation studies.
Comprehensive Pulmonary Function Tests
Comprehensive pulmonary function tests are more detailed than spirometry, measuring the amount of air in your lungs, how well your lungs can inhale and exhale air and your lungs’ ability to transfer oxygen to the rest of your body. These tests help diagnose or exclude asthma or bronchitis and help determine medication and dosage effectiveness.
Request a lung function test if you experience:
- Coughing, especially at night or when exercising or laughing
- Wheezing or a squeaky/whistling sound when breathing in or out
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Chest colds or bronchitis a few times a year
- Ribs and neck muscles showing when breathing
