Pulmonary function tests, a method of diagnosing the cause of shortness of breath

Shortness of breath or dyspnea is a common health condition in the community. People who experience shortness of breath usually complain of chest pain and difficulty breathing normally. There are various conditions that can cause shortness of breath. Having a pulmonary function test will help your doctor find a proper diagnosis of the cause of your shortness of breath. How do I do a lung function test?

Examination to diagnose the cause of shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is a complaint that is quite commonly found as a symptom of certain diseases. According to American Family Physician, there are generally 4 types of differential diagnosis to find out the cause behind shortness of breath.

The differential diagnosis is a list of diseases or health problems that are causing certain symptoms. Here is a differential diagnosis for the causes of shortness of breath:

• heart problems
• lung problems
• heart and lung problems
• other conditions not related to the heart and lungs

The four health conditions above can be further divided into various other types of diseases. Heart problems can consist of coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, or cardiomyopathy. Lung problems can include asthma, pneumothorax, pneumonia, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In addition, it does not rule out that shortness of breath is also caused by diseases that have nothing to do with heart or lung problems, such as anemia, diabetes ketoacidosis, to psychological problems such as anxiety disorders.anxiety disorder).

So that doctors and the medical team can find out what disease is the main cause of your shortness of breath, the diagnosis is usually carried out in three stages, namely asking for medical history, physical examination, and tests with medical instruments.

In most cases, the cause of shortness of breath can be directly traced through a physical examination and medical history of the patient, for example in patients with heart or lung problems.

1. Knowing the patient's medical history

By asking your medical history prior to diagnostic tests, your doctor can find some clues that can explain your shortness of breath symptoms. Here, the doctor will ask you about your shortness of breath symptoms in depth, for example how often the condition appears, how long it lasts, when it occurs, and other symptoms that also occur when the attack of shortness of breath lasts.

The reason is, certain characteristics of shortness of breath can refer to certain diseases. In addition, you will also be asked about your daily habits, lifestyle (such as smoking), and the drugs you are currently taking.

It will be more helpful if you also tell them what illness you have or have been suffering from. This will make it easier for doctors and the medical team to determine the diagnosis of your shortness of breath.

2. Perform a physical examination

Furthermore, the doctor will also conduct a thorough examination of your body. A physical exam can also help doctors and the medical team to get a diagnosis of the cause of shortness of breath and avoid unnecessary use of medical test kits.

Not much different from a medical history examination, the doctor will find out certain characteristics or conditions in your body that indicate a certain disease. This is because there are conditions other than shortness of breath that the doctor needs to find to make a diagnosis.

One example is a nasal congestion or wheezing, which may indicate asthma. Lung sounds that can be heard through a stethoscope can also be a sign of several diseases that cause shortness of breath. Another method is to check for swelling in certain parts of the body, such as swelling in the thyroid gland or lymph nodes in the neck.

3. Pulmonary function tests

In some cases, the doctor may need to carry out an examination with a medical instrument to make a diagnosis of the cause of shortness of breath. If your doctor suspects that your shortness of breath is caused by heart or lung disease, you may be asked to undergo additional tests with a chest x-ray or electrocardiogram (EKG).

Diagnosis by radiology and electrocardiogram can generally pinpoint the underlying cause of your shortness of breath. However, in certain cases, the doctor will need to perform a pulmonary function test as a second line of examination to be able to conclude a definite diagnosis of the cause of shortness of breath.

Some of the most commonly used pulmonary function tests to diagnose causes of shortness of breath include:

• Spirometry and peak flow meter

  Spirometry is a test using a spirometer or peak flow meter to measure how well you are breathing. Generally, this test is done to make a diagnosis of shortness of breath caused by asthma, COPD, or emphysema. Not only at the hospital or clinic, you can also do this test independently at home.

• Lung volume test

  This examination is similar to a spirometry test. The difference is, you will be asked to be in a small room during the test. Not much different from spirometry, this test will measure how much air can enter the lungs, as well as the remaining air that is in the lungs after you exhale.

• Blood gas analysis

  This diagnostic test can also find out any abnormalities in your blood as a cause of shortness of breath. Blood gas analysis can measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. This test is done by taking a blood sample from an artery in the wrist.

• Testexhaled nitric oxide

  For this examination, the doctor will measure the amount of nitric oxide that is exhaled by your lungs. The higher the nitric oxide level, the higher the chances of inflammation in the respiratory tract. This test is done by attaching a clip to the nose andmouthpieceon the mouth. The two devices are connected to a monitor that will be used to check your breathing.