Being an internist, Dr. Parikh is able to work with patients experiencing breathing problems. Both offices in Cary and Raleigh offer onsite PFT (pulmonary function testing) services for quick attention to your problem. Lung function can play a huge role in everyone’s day to day life and is obviously a critical need for each and every patient. If you are experiencing breathing problems that seem out of the ordinary, contact one of our convenient offices today to schedule an appointment.
Learn more about Pulmonary Function and Testing
Exactly what Are Lung Function Tests?
Lung function evaluations, also known as pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) function tests, measure the performance level of your lungs. These evaluations are employed to look for the cause of breathing difficulties, such as breathlessness, shortness of breath or other types of breathing difficulties.
Lung function evaluations measure:
- How much air you are able to take in to your lungs at one time. This amount is compared with that of other folks with a similar age, height, and gender. This will indicate whether it is in the “normal” range immediately.
- How much air-you can blow from the lungs and how fast you’re able to get it done.
- How well your lungs transfer oxygen to the blood.
- The strength of your breathing muscles.
Physicians use lung function tests (also known as Pulmonary function tests or PFTs) to help diagnose ailments including asthma, pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lung tissue), and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary illness).
Lung function evaluations also are used to check the extent of devastation caused by illnesses such as pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis (sar-koy-DOE-sis). Additionally, these evaluations may be used to assess how well treatments, including asthma medications, are working.
What Kind of Breathing Tests are Commonly Used?
Lung function evaluations include breathing evaluations and tests that measure the oxygen level in your blood. The respiration tests most often used are:
- Spirometry (spi-ROM-ehtre). This evaluation measures how much air you’ll be able to breathe in and out. Additionally, it measures how fast you can blow air outside.
- Body plethysmography (pleth iz MOG-ra-fe). This evaluation measures how much air is present in your lungs when you take a deep breath. In addition, it quantifies how much air remains in your lungs after you breathe out fully.
- Lung diffusion capability. This test measures how well oxygen passes from your lungs for your bloodstream.
Unfortunately, these tests may not always end up revealing the specific cause of respiration difficulties. So, you may end up needing to have other evaluations too, like an exercise stress test. This test measures overall how your heart and lungs function while you workout on a treadmill or cycle.
Two evaluations that measure the oxygen level in your blood are pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas evaluations. These evaluations also are called blood oxygen tests.
Pulse oximetry quantifies your blood oxygen level using a specific light. For an arterial blood gas test, your physician takes an example of your blood, generally from an artery in your wrist. The sample is delivered to a laboratory, where its oxygen level is measured.
Does a PFT hurt?
No – lung function evaluations usually are painless and very infrequently cause any unwanted side effects. You may feel some distress during an arterial blood gas test when the blood sample is taken.
xuijing says
I wasnt even looking for this subject, but I couldnt stop watching, as with
every video from khanacademy.
Charlene Herrera says
Great video! thanks!
Hilda Salama says
You are awesome!
XInsidious GamingX says
No he actually looks like James Jonah Jameson, peter parker’s boss from
spiderman. lol
Marcus Terria says
this is awesome, im studyn to be a EMT, and your videos help me understnad
so much better than txt books
thomas burns says
Brilliant. Loveed it and was easy to follow. going to follow it and love
the detailed work thanks
nochaplainzone says
Rishi, your videos are my favorite at Khans. Thanks for contributing.
DollyB lala says
Love these video. Good job and thanks for the effort. Love from London!!! 🙂
Troy Righter says
Very good video. Really breaks down the respiratory anatomy and function in
simple terms. Thank you very much!
allyvv89 says
I’m a nursing student at Conestoga College and just want to say thank you
so much for your awesome videos, I just subscribed to your channel and
can’t wait to watch the videos that make everything so much easier to
understand cuz of your fantastic animations. Thanks for all the time and
hard work you put into these videos
archieablaze says
What software is he using to draw this?
EduNation Malaysia says
Form 4 Biology
Chapter 07 : Respiration
7.6 KA: Respiratory Structure and breathing mechanism of humans
Cactus Matt says
i agree with you, these videos are extremely helpful and well done
xY00xH00x says
Thanks for posting. Taking online classes is not easy – it all depends on
the ability to read and understand the text books, which many times are so
confusing.
xY00xH00x says
It is, I just came across one.
Keishamae Thomas says
Very helpful my professor decided to cancel class yesterday knowing we have
midterms in two weeks
Karkat Vantas says
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!! (Thank you for helping me pass anatomy! )
scarredk0 says
is this stuff degree level or high-school??
Pelin PrincessDie says
Who has a test about this the next day?
Shayne Hearns says
+Pelin PrincessDie this one.
Samantha Evans says
Nothing like learning anatomy on a Cyclops.
Kareem Turjman says
LOLZ
Camille Kim says
whats fooo
yolan Diego says
you mean µm
Max Jenkinson says
I’m 14 and understand this perfectly thanks :)