Shortness of breath. A cough that just won’t go away. Wheezing when you exercise. Tightness in your chest. Reaching for your rescue inhaler more often than you used to.

Breathing symptoms don’t always begin with a dramatic asthma attack. Sometimes, they show up gradually—and it can be easy to adjust your routine around them without realizing how much your breathing has changed.

You don’t have to wait until breathing becomes a daily struggle to find out what’s going on.

At AIR Care, MD in Dallas and Plano, Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) gives our specialists valuable information about how well your lungs are working. These non-invasive breathing tests can help diagnose and monitor asthma and other respiratory conditions and provide objective information that can be used to develop an individualized treatment plan.

If something about your breathing doesn’t feel right, a PFT may help provide answers.

What Is a Pulmonary Function Test?

A Pulmonary Function Test, or PFT, is a type of breathing test used to evaluate how well your lungs function.

Depending on the testing being performed, pulmonary function testing can help your healthcare provider evaluate factors such as how much air you can move in and out of your lungs and how quickly you can exhale.

Rather than relying only on how you describe your symptoms, a PFT provides measurable information about your lung function.

That can be particularly valuable because breathing symptoms can sometimes feel similar even when their underlying causes are different.

What Symptoms May Mean You Need a Pulmonary Function Test?

You don’t need to wait for severe breathing problems before discussing your symptoms with a healthcare provider.

Consider scheduling an evaluation if you are experiencing symptoms such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• A lingering or recurring cough
• Chest tightness
• Difficulty breathing during exercise
• Frequent asthma symptoms or flare-ups
• Increased reliance on a rescue inhaler
• Breathing symptoms that interfere with sleep
• Difficulty keeping up with your normal activities

Sometimes these symptoms are obvious. Other times, the changes are subtle.

Maybe you have started avoiding certain workouts. Perhaps you’re coughing more at night. Maybe stairs leave you more winded than they used to, or you find yourself reaching for your inhaler more frequently.

Those changes are worth discussing.

How Can a PFT Help Diagnose Asthma?

Asthma symptoms can vary considerably from person to person. They can also change depending on exercise, illness, allergens, environmental exposures, weather and other triggers.

Pulmonary function testing gives your AIR Care, MD provider objective information that can be considered alongside your symptoms and medical history when evaluating you for asthma or another respiratory condition.

Testing may also help your provider determine whether airflow through your lungs is limited and evaluate how your lungs respond to certain medications when appropriate.

For patients who have already been diagnosed with asthma, pulmonary testing can also be useful for monitoring lung function over time.

PFTs Aren’t Just About Getting an Asthma Diagnosis

Pulmonary function testing isn’t limited to patients who are trying to determine whether they have asthma.

If you already have an asthma diagnosis, periodic testing may provide your healthcare team with additional information about how well your asthma is being controlled.

That distinction matters.

It is possible to become accustomed to symptoms over time. You may gradually modify your activities, avoid triggers or accept coughing and shortness of breath as part of your routine.

Objective testing gives your provider another piece of the picture.

At AIR Care, MD, pulmonary testing may be used alongside your medical history, symptoms, physical examination and other appropriate testing to help determine whether your current treatment plan is meeting your needs.

What Happens During a Pulmonary Function Test?

Many patients are surprised by how straightforward pulmonary testing can be.

During common pulmonary function tests, you will receive instructions about breathing into specialized equipment. You may be asked to take a deep breath, exhale forcefully or repeat a breathing maneuver several times so your healthcare team can obtain reliable measurements.

The testing is generally:

Non-invasive. There are no surgical procedures involved.

Painless. The test measures your breathing rather than causing pain.

Quick. Many pulmonary tests can be completed during an office visit, although the exact amount of time depends on the testing your provider orders.

Informative. PFT results provide objective measurements that can help your provider better understand how your lungs are functioning.

Your AIR Care, MD team will explain what to expect based on the specific pulmonary testing recommended for you.

Why Getting Answers About Your Breathing Matters

When breathing problems become part of everyday life, people sometimes start working around their symptoms.

You skip the morning run.

You stop playing outside with your kids.

You avoid activities that leave you winded.

You assume your cough is “just allergies.”

Or you keep your rescue inhaler close and hope your symptoms don’t get worse.

But your treatment plan should help you participate in your life—not continually require you to plan your life around your breathing.

Identifying and understanding your symptoms is an important first step toward developing an appropriate treatment plan.

Asthma, Allergies and Breathing Problems in North Texas

Living in North Texas can introduce another complication: environmental triggers.

Dallas-Fort Worth residents are exposed to seasonal pollens, molds, changing weather conditions and other environmental factors that may affect people with asthma and allergies.

For some patients, respiratory symptoms may also overlap with allergy symptoms. Understanding the complete picture can therefore be important when determining an appropriate treatment approach.

As an allergy and asthma practice, AIR Care, MD can evaluate your symptoms in context rather than simply looking at one isolated complaint.

If allergies are contributing to asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties, identifying those triggers may become an important part of your overall care plan.

Pulmonary Function Testing in Dallas and Plano

If you’ve been searching for pulmonary function testing in Dallas, a PFT in Plano, or an evaluation for ongoing asthma or breathing symptoms in the DFW area, AIR Care, MD offers advanced pulmonary testing as part of our comprehensive allergy and asthma care.

Our providers work with patients to understand not just that symptoms are happening, but what may be contributing to them and what can be done to better manage them.

Because “I’m having trouble breathing” isn’t the end of the conversation.

It’s where the investigation begins.

Don’t Wait Until Breathing Becomes a Daily Struggle

You don’t have to wait for a severe asthma flare-up to ask questions about your lung health.

If you’ve noticed shortness of breath, wheezing, persistent coughing, chest tightness, exercise-related breathing difficulties or frequent asthma symptoms, talk with a healthcare provider.

A Pulmonary Function Test may be one of the tools your provider recommends to help better understand what is happening.

AIR Care, MD is currently accepting new patients at our Dallas and Plano locations.

Contact AIR Care, MD today to schedule an appointment and find out whether pulmonary function testing may be appropriate for your symptoms.

Dallas | Plano

Frequently Asked Questions About Pulmonary Function Testing

1. What symptoms might mean I need a Pulmonary Function Test?

A healthcare provider may recommend pulmonary function testing if you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, persistent coughing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing during exercise or recurring asthma symptoms. A PFT provides objective information about how well your lungs are functioning and may help your provider determine what additional evaluation or treatment is appropriate.

2. Can a Pulmonary Function Test tell if I have asthma?

Pulmonary function testing is commonly used as part of an asthma evaluation. The results can provide information about airflow and lung function that your healthcare provider can consider along with your symptoms, medical history, examination and other testing. No single test should be interpreted without the context of your overall clinical evaluation.

3. What happens during a PFT for asthma?

During common pulmonary function testing, you breathe into specialized equipment while following instructions from your healthcare team. You may be asked to inhale deeply and exhale forcefully several times. Depending on the test, additional measurements or testing before and after medication may be recommended.

4. Should I have a PFT if I’ve already been diagnosed with asthma?

Pulmonary function testing can be useful even after an asthma diagnosis. Your provider may use PFT results to monitor lung function, assess asthma control or gather additional objective information that can help guide your treatment plan. How frequently testing is appropriate depends on your individual symptoms and medical history.

5. Where can I get a Pulmonary Function Test in Dallas or Plano, Texas?

AIR Care, MD provides pulmonary testing as part of its allergy and asthma care at locations in Dallas and Plano, Texas. Patients experiencing asthma symptoms, wheezing, persistent coughing, chest tightness or unexplained shortness of breath can schedule an evaluation to determine whether pulmonary function testing is appropriate.