health

Emphysema is most often diagnosed by pulmonary function tests or PFTs.
These are tests in which the patient is asked to breathe into a device called
a spirometer. The spirometer measures how much air the patient’s lungs
can hold and how fast the air moves in and out of the lungs. It can also
be used to determine how well the lungs are exchanging oxygen and
carbon dioxide. Another way the spirometer can be used is to test the effectiveness
of inhaled medications in treating the patient’s emphysema.
Patients are also typically given a chest x ray or computed tomography
(CT) scan to look for damage to lung tissue and the possible presence
of a lung infection. To measure the amount of oxygen and carbon
dioxide in the patient’s blood, he or she may be given a type of blood test
called the arterial blood gases test. This test can help the doctor evaluate
the severity of the patient’s emphysema.