If you had COVID and still have breathing problems, you are not alone but belong to a category of people known as long haulers. The symptoms of COVID last about two weeks in most patients, but long haulers experience lingering health problems even after they recover from COVID. Once infected from the virus, you can experience these ongoing health problems or post-COVID conditions for four or more weeks.
Having long-haul COVID syndrome means you will experience combinations of different symptoms that will last for different lengths of time. Your breathing problem is also a long-haul COVID syndrome. Other than breathing problems such as shortness of breath, you may experience tiredness, asthma, cough, brain fog, chest or stomach pain, and sleeping problem, to name a few.
COVID virus attacked your cardiopulmonary that is why you are experiencing pulmonary symptoms. You may want to know to what extent the virus affected your pulmonary system. A pulmonary function test can help you find the answer to your question.
Let’s find out what is pulmonary function test and would it be beneficial for you if you have breathing problems after contracting COVID.
What Are Pulmonary Function Tests?
Pulmonary function tests (PFT) are lung tests that are non-invasive tests and show how well your lungs are working. This also helps determine how well you can breathe and how well your lungs are able to send oxygen to your body. PFT includes a variety of tests that help your pulmonologist diagnose your pulmonary health condition. The most common pulmonary function test include:
- Spirometry –diagnose asthma and COPD
- Cardiopulmonary exercise test –diagnose what is restricting your lungs activity level when exercising
- Bronchial provocation test –evaluate the sensitivity of lungs and diagnose asthma or rule out asthma
- Exhaled nitric oxide test –evaluate for inflammation of airways
- Pulse oximetry test – measure oxygen saturation of red blood cells
- Plethysmography test – measure gas volume in your lungs
- Diffusion capacity test- assess how well your alveoli work
Would Pulmonary Function Tests Be Beneficial For You?
The virus affects your lungs and results in the manifestation of various pulmonary symptoms. The coronavirus causes inflammation with vasodilation, increased pulmonary capillary permeability, and endothelial cell necrosis when you are affected by it. A recent study determined the long-term effect of the coronavirus on the lungs of survivors. The study reported that the survivors showed impairment in the pulmonary function test even months to years after their recovery from the virus. Another study found impairment in gas conductance, forced expiratory volume, and total lung capacity approximately six months after the recovery.
Pulmonary function tests will benefit you because this will help your pulmonologist determine what is causing you to experience breathing problems after contracting COVID. The reason for your breathing problem could be asthma, COPD, pneumonia, or other underlying lung problem caused by the virus. Typically, the pulmonary function test is recommended in the following conditions:
- Having symptoms of lungs condition like shortness of breath
- To assess lung functions before surgery
- To monitor asthma and COPD
- When regularly exposed to a certain substance
Pulmonary Function Tests Near Me In Weatherford, TX
If you have had recovered from COVID months before but still experiencing pulmonary symptoms such as breathing problems and cough, visiting Lung & Sleep Specialists of North Texas can help you. Our pulmonologist will recommend the pulmonary function tests for the determination of your lung condition and function. Our highly qualified and skilled pulmonologist will also determine the cause of your breathing problem and devise a treatment plan for you.
To know more about the pulmonary function tests and their benefits or set up a consultation, request a consultation online. You can also call us at (817) 594-9993.
We look forward to treating your long-haul covid syndrome!
