LGBTQ+ Inclusive Care
Receive inclusive LGBTQ+ medical care at Main Line Health in a compassionate and welcoming space at locations in the Philadelphia region.
Routine Pulmonary Function Testing
Breathe easier with routine pulmonary function testing
Routine pulmonary function tests (PFTs) check how well you can breathe and measure how well your lungs are bringing oxygen to your body. Your doctor may suggest that you get pulmonary function tests to see if you have a lung disease, or to see how well treatments are working for a lung disease you already have. Using tests called spirometry and plethysmography (lung volume testing), routine pulmonary function testing measures:
- How much air you can breathe in and out
- How quickly you can fill and empty your lungs
- How much air you breathe in and out when you’re breathing normally
- How much air is in your lungs at different points during the breathing cycle
- How much air your lungs can hold at maximum capacity
Routine pulmonary function tests can be a useful way to diagnose illnesses like asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD or lung cancer.
Your results from these tests give your doctor an idea of how healthy your lungs are.
How does pulmonary function testing work?
For most of the test, you’ll sit in a small, glass booth. You’ll have a small clip on your nose, like one you might wear while swimming. You’ll place your mouth on a special mouthpiece that attaches to a machine that measures your breathing.
At first, you’ll breathe normally. Then the doctor or respiratory therapist doing the test will tell you what to do next. Part of the test involves breathing out as much as you can, and part of it involves breathing in as much as you can. You may need to inhale certain medicines to see if they make it easier or harder to breathe.
You’ll need to repeat the test a few times to make sure the results are accurate. You’ll have some waiting time between each test to catch your breath, but let the doctor or respiratory therapist know if you need a break.
If you’re having a hard time breathing, talk to your doctor to see if you might need pulmonary function tests.
Trauma and Acute Care
Main Line Health provides life-saving care and urgent support at trauma centers located throughout the Philadelphia region.
Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
The board-certified experts at Main Line Health can help develop treatments to control and manage your allergy and asthma symptoms.
Pediatrics
Learn how Main Line Health pediatricians collaborate with CHOP subspecialty doctors to provide the utmost optimal care for children.
Neurosurgery
Discover how Main Line Health neurosurgeons provide expert care, from routine to complex spinal and nervous system conditions for patients.
Orthopaedics
Orthopaedic doctors at Main Line Health treat simple to complex sports and accident-related injuries as well as the painful effects of many conditions that limit your mobility and cause pain. Find an orthopaedic surgeon near me.
Pain Management
Discover how Main Line Health experts serve Philadelphia by treating a wide range of conditions, including back, neck and oncology-related pain.
Gender Care Program
We offer streamlined access to a team of medical, surgical, behavioral health and support specialists, in partnership with Main Line Health LGBTQ Inclusive Care for gender-affirming care.