Simply put, a Pulmonary Function Test or PFT is a medical procedure to check the health of your lungs. This diagnosis allows you to check whether your lung is healthy to transfer oxygen to the blood. It determines health by checking the lung capacity, gas exchange, volume, and airflow rates. 

While it is an essential diagnostic test, it has several types and procedures for different people with different requirements. In this blog, we will guide you through the Pulmonary Function Test and why Zena Health Care is the right choice when you are looking for a PFT test near me.

Keep reading to know more about it. 

The Importance of PFT

A PFT test plays a crucial role in keeping you updated with the health and function of your lungs. When you get a PFT, you can diagnose potential risks like: 

  • Lung Cancer 
  • Asthma 
  • Allergy in lungs 
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis

Types of Pulmonary Function Tests

This non-surgical diagnostic process has different types for different purposes. Some of the primary types are: 

  1. Lung Volume Test
    This procedure determines the amount of air your lungs can hold. 
  1. Spirometry
    Here, the PFT diagnostic centre in Bhubaneswar will measure the speed and amount of air you can inhale and exhale. 
  1. Peak Flow Management
    In this procedure, the medical professional will check the maximum speed of exhaling air from your lungs. 
  1. Diffusion Capacity Test
    Finally, in this test, your medical professional will evaluate the effectiveness of your lungs. This helps you determine whether the lungs efficiently transfer oxygen to the blood. 

Who Must Get a PFT?

If you experience the following, you must go for a respiratory health checkup in Bhubaneswar: 

  1. If you are continuously experiencing chronic symptoms like breathlessness, wheezing, and extreme coughing. 
  2. People who work in an environment exposed to chemicals and dust must take this test to maintain healthy lungs. 
  3. If you suffer from respiratory conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or Asthma. 
  4. You must also take this test if you are a chain smoker.
  5. In some cases, your doctor will perform this test before the surgery to determine the health of the lungs. 

(Also read from our previous blogs: Top Benefits of Getting a TMT Test Near You: Health Screening at Zena Health Care.)

What to expect from a PFT? 

Even though before performing the test, your medical expert will discuss the process with you, the following is the general process you can expect during the test: 

  1. Pre-test 

Before visiting your nearest PFT diagnostic centre, you must avoid consuming heavy meals at least 3-4 hours before taking the test. If you are a smoker, avoid smoking at least 5-6 hours before the test. 

  1. During the test
    When you reach your diagnostic centre, you will sit on a chair. Your expert will then clip your nose, preventing the air from passing through your nose. During this process, the expert will also provide you with a mouthpiece connected to the PFT machine, allowing the medical expert to monitor and take notes. 


While this happens, the expert will guide you through a few breathing exercises. During this 30-60-minute test, the medical expert will also perform spirometry, lung volume, diffusion capacity, exercise, and bronchodilator reversibility testing.

  1. Post-test
    Once the test is over, your expert will extract the report, and a pulmonologist will review it. 

Understanding your results

To learn and understand more about your body and lung health, you must be aware of the following components: 

  • Forced Vital Capacity: This indicates the amount of air you exhale after taking a long, deep breath. If the FVC count is low, it may indicate lung disease.
  • Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1) tests the amount of air you release during the first second of the forced breath. A low FEV1 count may indicate obstructive lung diseases. 
  • FVC and FEV1 ratio: This allows you to determine the differences between restrictive (FVC) and obstructive (FEV1) lung disease. 
  • Peak Expiratory Flow: Useful for asthma patients, PEF measures the speed of exhaling air. 
  • Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO): Thuis evaluates and monitors your lung’s ability to transfer the gas from the air to your bloodstream. 

Bottom Line 

Not taking serious care of your respiratory organs can disturb body health harmony, preventing you from living a healthy and focused life. A Pulmonary Function Test allows you to determine the quality of your lungs and cure potential respiratory diseases that can cause you to suffer while performing daily life tasks. 

So, when you look out for a PFT test near me in bhubaneswar, your top choice will always be Zena HealthCare because here, we have professional technicians and medical experts who will ensure you get accurate results. 
You can contact us here to learn more or book an appointment.