What Does Your Pulmonary Function Test Mean? Once you are diagnosed with asbestos related lung disease, one of the tools CARD uses to follow the course of the disease is a pulmonary function test (PFT). The PFT is used in conjunction with imaging of the chest, a provider visit, and when needed, additional testing to determine how well you are breathing, and the extent of your disease, as well as what treatments may be the most beneficial for you. This is usually done on an annual basis so that progress can be tracked. Patients with other lung diseases such as COPD and asthma may also benefit from regular PFT's. In most cases, the PFT uses a percent-predicted value. This means that the value you got on a particular portion of the test is compared to what the computer calculates that a healthy person of the same height, weight, sex, age, and race should be able to get on that part of the test based on population norms. This produces a percentage. At 100%, you did the same as what the computer predicted. Under 100%, your value is lower than predicted. Over 100%, you did better than predicted. In most cases, 80 % and above are considered to be within the normal range. At a basic level, we look at three main values-forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon dioxide (DLCO). FVC is a measure of how deep a breath you are able to take in. This value is often lower in those with diseases such as asbestos related pleural thickening, which can restrict lung expansion. Once you have a lung full of air, FEV1 measures how well you are able to blow that air back out. This value tends to be lower in people with obstructive lung diseases such as COPD and asthma. DLCO is a measure of how efficient your lungs are at extracting the oxygen from the air and getting it into your blood stream so that oxygenated blood can get to the heart, brain, and other organs where it is needed. Any scarring or other damage to the tissues inside the lungs, such as asbestosis or emphysema, can cause a decrease in DLCO. At some point, you may be given an additional bronchodilator challenge. After a baseline FVC and FEV1 are done, you may be asked to repeat those tests after receiving a dose of a bronchodilator. Bronchodilators are medications commonly found in inhalers. They help relax the bronchial tubes leading down into the lungs and can be useful in some patients with obstructive disease. If your values for FEV1 improve after the bronchodilator. this means that you might benefit from an inhaler as part of your treatment. Tracking PFTS over time allows us to compare you to you instead of comparing you to a more generic predicted value. This is important because anything over 80% of predicted is considered normal. For example, if you have lost a significant amount of lung function such as moving from 100% to 82% on a test in subsequent years, then you may be feeling symptoms that could be treated and your lung disease should be evaluated more closely due to changes. It would not be possible to see this drop. and your test at 82% of predicted would be considered normal, if you had no prior PFT tests to compare your results to. Annual testing ensures that we catch these types of changes and that you are receiving appropriate interventions in a timely manner. If you think you are due for an annual visit or if you are not diagnosed and may have been exposed to Libby Amphibole Asbestos in Lincoln County, Montana, please call CARD to inquire about an appointment. Our number is (406) 293-9274. Ongoing visits will be billed to insurance, and screening visits are available at no cost under a federally funded grant program. C CARD Center for Asbestos Related Disease Call 293-9274 or stop by 214 E. 3rd St to pick up a screening application. Testing available locally or from a distance. Screening provided through CDC grant # 5NU61TS000295. Ongoing care not covered. SCREENING // HEALTHCARE // EDUCATION // RESEARCH // OUTREACH Bosemanow biopsy Braces Pulmonary Function station Test What Does Your Pulmonary Function Test Mean ? Once you are diagnosed with asbestos related lung disease , one of the tools CARD uses to follow the course of the disease is a pulmonary function test ( PFT ) . The PFT is used in conjunction with imaging of the chest , a provider visit , and when needed , additional testing to determine how well you are breathing , and the extent of your disease , as well as what treatments may be the most beneficial for you . This is usually done on an annual basis so that progress can be tracked . Patients with other lung diseases such as COPD and asthma may also benefit from regular PFT's . In most cases , the PFT uses a percent - predicted value . This means that the value you got on a particular portion of the test is compared to what the computer calculates that a healthy person of the same height , weight , sex , age , and race should be able to get on that part of the test based on population norms . This produces a percentage . At 100 % , you did the same as what the computer predicted . Under 100 % , your value is lower than predicted . Over 100 % , you did better than predicted . In most cases , 80 % and above are considered to be within the normal range . At a basic level , we look at three main values - forced vital capacity ( FVC ) , forced expiratory volume ( FEV1 ) , and diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon dioxide ( DLCO ) . FVC is a measure of how deep a breath you are able to take in . This value is often lower in those with diseases such as asbestos related pleural thickening , which can restrict lung expansion . Once you have a lung full of air , FEV1 measures how well you are able to blow that air back out . This value tends to be lower in people with obstructive lung diseases such as COPD and asthma . DLCO is a measure of how efficient your lungs are at extracting the oxygen from the air and getting it into your blood stream so that oxygenated blood can get to the heart , brain , and other organs where it is needed . Any scarring or other damage to the tissues inside the lungs , such as asbestosis or emphysema , can cause a decrease in DLCO . At some point , you may be given an additional bronchodilator challenge . After a baseline FVC and FEV1 are done , you may be asked to repeat those tests after receiving a dose of a bronchodilator . Bronchodilators are medications commonly found in inhalers . They help relax the bronchial tubes leading down into the lungs and can be useful in some patients with obstructive disease . If your values for FEV1 improve after the bronchodilator . this means that you might benefit from an inhaler as part of your treatment . Tracking PFTS over time allows us to compare you to you instead of comparing you to a more generic predicted value . This is important because anything over 80 % of predicted is considered normal . For example , if you have lost a significant amount of lung function such as moving from 100 % to 82 % on a test in subsequent years , then you may be feeling symptoms that could be treated and your lung disease should be evaluated more closely due to changes . It would not be possible to see this drop . and your test at 82 % of predicted would be considered normal , if you had no prior PFT tests to compare your results to . Annual testing ensures that we catch these types of changes and that you are receiving appropriate interventions in a timely manner . If you think you are due for an annual visit or if you are not diagnosed and may have been exposed to Libby Amphibole Asbestos in Lincoln County , Montana , please call CARD to inquire about an appointment . Our number is ( 406 ) 293-9274 . Ongoing visits will be billed to insurance , and screening visits are available at no cost under a federally funded grant program . C CARD Center for Asbestos Related Disease Call 293-9274 or stop by 214 E. 3rd St to pick up a screening application . Testing available locally or from a distance . Screening provided through CDC grant # 5NU61TS000295 . Ongoing care not covered . SCREENING // HEALTHCARE // EDUCATION // RESEARCH // OUTREACH Bosemanow biopsy Braces Pulmonary Function station Test