What tests will be used to diagnose bronchospasm?

What tests will be used to diagnose bronchospasm?

Your provider may recommend certain assessments to determine how well your lungs are functioning. These tests may include:

• Pulse oximetry. A device is placed on your finger or ear to measure how much oxygen is in your blood.
• Spirometry. A spirometer is a device that measures the force of air as you breathe in and out of a tube.
• Lung volume assessment. This tells your provider how much air your lungs can hold.
• Lung diffusion capacity. During this test, you breathe into a tube to determine how well oxygen is transferred or diffused between your lungs and your blood.
• Arterial blood gas tests. This test measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. It also measures the pH level of your blood.
• Eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation. Your healthcare provider may use this test to check for exercise-induced bronchospasm. During this assessment, you breathe in a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which mimics breathing during exercise. If it has a negative impact on your lungs, then you probably have exercise-induced bronchospasm.

In addition to the breathing tests, your healthcare provider may also take imaging tests to look for infections or other lung problems. These tests could include chest X-rays and CT scans.