Besides the heart, “lungs” are another vital organ that works tirelessly. With every breath we take, the lungs work hard to filter out waste particles that come with the air, bring oxygen into the body, and release carbon dioxide. Additionally, the lungs help dissipate heat and regulate the body’s temperature.
Did you know? If the lungs stop working… we will die within minutes.
What would happen if one day our lungs could no longer function as well as before?
Take a little care of your lungs
Because the lungs are known for their endurance and toughness, by the time abnormal symptoms appear, it is often already at a severe stage. “Pulmonary Function Testing” is therefore an important method that helps us listen to the lungs’ call before symptoms manifest. Pulmonary function testing requires the cooperation of the patient to blow with full effort, and the examiner must have understanding, expertise, and experience to obtain accurate test results.
Pulmonary function testing is not as difficult as you think
Pulmonary function testing differs from a general chest X-ray as it reveals the efficiency of the respiratory system by measuring the volume of air entering and leaving the lungs, the size of the airways, and oxygen intake. A chest X-ray only shows radiographic images of the lungs to detect any lesions but cannot measure lung function efficiency.
Pulmonary function testing is easy and takes only 15-30 minutes. Patients do not need special preparation, just wear comfortable clothing that is not tight or restrictive to allow full breathing effort. Avoid eating a heavy meal before the test. Those using bronchodilator medication should stop using it before the test and refrain from smoking at least 24 hours prior.
The standard and commonly used method is Spirometry, which measures the volume of air inhaled and exhaled through the mouth using a device called a Spirometer. This method provides reliable data on lung function. Important measured values for lung function assessment include:
- FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) is the volume of air forcefully exhaled after a full inhalation. FVC reflects the total volume of air in the lungs. This value decreases when lung tissue undergoes fibrosis or when the lungs cannot fully expand.
- FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second) is the volume of air forcefully exhaled in the first second. FEV1 is used together with FVC for calculations.
- Experts then calculate the ratio of these two values to assess the ability to exhale air from the lungs, which helps determine if there is any lung abnormality, airway obstruction, or reduced elasticity. Normal values are generally above 70%.
Who should get tested
- Smokers and those close to smokers
- People who regularly use public transportation
- Regular motorcycle riders
- People living in areas with high pollution, such as near factories or busy roads
- Those with chronic cough (cough lasting more than 8 weeks)
- Those who get tired easily or feel shortness of breath
- People with respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, or emphysema
- People with high-risk occupations or working in highly polluted environments, such as factory workers exposed to dust, miners, stone crushers, chemical exposure, and traffic police
“Once the lungs are damaged, they cannot be restored to their original condition.
Get your lung health checked today.
It’s better than having to endure breathlessness and difficulty breathing from lung disease for a lifetime.”
