When should you take a lung test?
The approach of winter is also the time when air quality drops sharply, especially in large cities. The World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2024 shows that only 7 countries meet clean air standards. India alone has 13/20 most polluted cities in the world.
Pollution combined with cigarette smoke increases the burden of respiratory diseases. Children are the most severely affected group because their breathing is fast, making it easier to absorb more toxins.
What is worrying is that diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can start in the fetus, when the mother smokes or is exposed to pollution during pregnancy, emphasizes Dr Moumita Misra, an X-rayer and pathologist in India.
Warning signs of lung problems are often overlooked, including:
The cough lasts for more than a week or the congestion does not stop.
shortness of breath, difficulty breathing even when working lightly.
Chest pain or a feeling of suffocation.
Pre-existing asthma or respiratory diseases are getting worse.
According to experts, these symptoms are all necessary reasons for conducting lung function tests, similar to measuring blood sugar or checking cholesterol regularly.
Lung function test: Mirror reflects respiratory health
Measuring respiratory function is a simple but extremely useful test. Patients only need to blow into a measuring device for the doctor to assess the lung condition.
R phagof fogging helps detect changes in the airways early, even before symptoms appear, says Dr. Laura Green, a respiratory expert at the University of Oxford. This is an important tool in preventing chronic diseases.
The benefits of lung function testing include:
Early detection of airway obstruction before becoming serious.
Assessing the effects of smoking on the lungs.
Monitor chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD.
Support the decision of treatment regimens and adjust appropriate drugs.
Measure the impact of pollution and the living environment.
In addition, the doctor may prescribe specialized tests such as: measuring lung volume in air circulation, checking the ability to diffuse oxygen into the blood, or performing cardiopulmonary stress test (CPET) to comprehensively assess respiratory function.
People in cities with high AQIs, smokers or people with persistent cough symptoms should consider lung function testing as part of the habit of regular health check-ups, recommends Dr. Misra.
