Having healthy lungs is vital for living a full and active life. However, many people are unsure about the status of their lung health and don’t know how to check if their lungs are functioning properly. Fortunately, there are several simple methods you can use at home to evaluate your respiratory health.
Be aware of symptoms
The first step is paying attention to any symptoms that may indicate potential lung problems. Some key things to look out for include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Wheezing or raspy breathing
- Persistent cough, especially if producing phlegm or mucus
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Chest tightness or pain with breathing
- Feeling out of breath with exertion or exercise
If you experience any of these symptoms regularly, it’s a good idea to get your lung function evaluated by a doctor. Transient or mild symptoms may not be a major concern, but chronic or worsening symptoms can signify an underlying lung condition that needs medical attention.
Listen to your breathing
One simple way to check your lung health is to listen to your breathing. Sit or lie in a quiet spot and take deep, slow breaths in and out. Listen carefully for any abnormal sounds like:
- Wheezing – High-pitched whistling sound when breathing out
- Stridor – Harsh, vibrating sound when breathing in
- Crackling – Bubbling or rattling sound when breathing
These types of respiratory sounds can indicate conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, or fluid buildup in the lungs. Make note of when you hear these sounds, such as when exhaling versus inhaling or whether they happen when taking deep breaths or at rest.
Evaluate your cough
Pay attention to any cough you experience. A strong, persistent cough that produces thick mucus or phlegm on a regular basis can signify problems with lung health. Here are some specific things to take note of:
- Duration – How long you have had the cough and whether it is chronic or comes and goes
- Severity – How strong the cough is and if it ever causes vomiting
- Time – If it happens at specific times like at night or with activity
- Triggers – Anything that seems to trigger coughing like dust, smoke, or cold air
- Color – Make note of the color and consistency of any phlegm coughed up
Talk to your doctor if you experience a persistent cough for more than 3 weeks or one that brings up discolored mucus. This could indicate a lung infection or other problem that requires treatment.
Check your breathing rate
Monitoring your respiratory rate is another simple way to evaluate lung function. Your breathing rate is the number of breaths you take per minute. For most healthy adults, this averages around 12 to 16 breaths per minute at rest.
Here’s how to check your breathing rate:
- Sit comfortably and relax. Breathe normally.
- Set a timer for 60 seconds.
- Count each breath in and out. You can watch your chest rise and fall or put a hand on your abdomen to feel each breath.
- At the end of 60 seconds, note how many breaths you took.
- Repeat two more times and calculate your average breaths per minute.
If your average is above 20 breaths per minute, that can indicate an underlying lung problem making you work harder to breathe. Rates lower than 12 may also be a concern and suggest your respiratory system is functioning suboptimally.
Measure your peak flow
Using a peak flow meter at home can give you a simple objective measure of lung capacity and strength. A peak flow meter is a small handheld device that measures peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) – how forcefully you can breathe air out.
To use a peak flow meter:
- Stand up straight.
- Take a deep breath in, filling your lungs completely.
- Seal your lips around the mouthpiece and blow out as hard and fast as you can in a single blow.
- Write down the number measured on the peak flow meter.
- Repeat two more times and record the best of the three numbers – this is your peak expiratory flow rate.
Compare your value to normal reference values based on your age, height, sex, and ethnicity. Generally, PEFR above 80% of the predicted value is considered normal. Your doctor can help interpret your peak flow results and if readings are abnormally low, it may indicate obstruction in the airways.
Monitor oxygen saturation
Measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2) can reveal if your lungs are delivering adequate oxygen into the bloodstream. This can easily be checked at home with a pulse oximeter device.
Follow steps similar to the peak flow meter:
- Turn on the pulse oximeter.
- Place it on your fingertip and relax your hand at heart level.
- Wait for it to register your oxygen saturation and pulse rate on the screen.
- Note the SpO2 percentage reading – normal is 95% or greater.
- Repeat on a different finger to confirm the result.
Oxygen saturation below 92% at rest usually indicates an underlying respiratory problem. If you already have a diagnosed lung condition, compare your results to your personal normal range when stable.
Consider getting a lung function test
While the above steps allow you to check basic lung function at home, having formal lung function testing done by a doctor is the best way to thoroughly evaluate respiratory health. This typically involves spirometry, a painless and non-invasive procedure.
Spirometry measures how much air you inhale, how much you exhale, and how quickly you exhale. You breathe through a mouthpiece connected to a small machine called a spirometer. The test determines two key measurements:
- FEV1 – Forced expiratory volume in 1 second. This is the amount of air you can forcefully exhale in the first second of breathing out.
- FVC – Forced vital capacity. This is the total volume of air exhaled with maximal effort.
Your FEV1/FVC ratio is calculated to diagnose conditions like COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and more. Spirometry is recommended for anyone with respiratory symptoms and for regular screening in smokers or people with chronic lung disease.
Get a chest x-ray
A chest x-ray is also a standard test that gives doctors an internal view of the lungs and surrounding structures. This imaging test can detect various problems such as:
- Fluid or inflammation in the lungs
- Hot spots that may indicate lung cancer
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- An enlarged heart that can cause congestion
- Issues with the ribs or chest wall
Many lung diseases show abnormal patterns on x-rays before symptoms may appear. Your doctor may recommend periodic chest x-rays to screen for early signs of disease if you are at high risk due to smoking, previous cancer, or occupational hazards.
Consider a CT scan for more detail
A CT or CAT scan of the chest provides even more detailed images than an x-ray. It takes multiple x-ray pictures from different angles around your body and compiles them into cross-sectional views of the lungs and chest cavity.
CT scans have some advantages over x-rays:
- Show more subtle abnormalities in the lungs
- Can detect smaller lung tumors
- Help diagnose blood clots, enlarged lymph nodes, or tissue scarring
- Useful for further evaluating abnormal x-ray findings
CT scans do expose you to more radiation so they are not used as routine screening. But they are very helpful diagnostic tests in people with unexplained lung symptoms, infections, cancer risks, or injuries.
Consider getting a lung biopsy
A lung biopsy may be recommended if lung imaging tests detect a suspicious spot that requires tissue sampling to diagnose. There are a few different types of lung biopsies.
- Needle biopsy – Using CT scan to guide a special hollow needle through the chest wall to collect a small sample of lung tissue. Often done with just local anesthesia.
- Bronchoscopy – Passing a flexible tube with a camera (bronchoscope) through the mouth and airways to collect tissue samples from inside the lung. You may receive sedation for this.
- Surgical biopsy – Surgeon makes an incision in the chest to directly access and remove a sample of lung tissue. Usually done under general anesthesia.
Examining lung tissue can lead to an accurate diagnosis and is especially useful for evaluating lung infections and cancer. The type of biopsy chosen depends on your health, lung condition, and the location of the abnormal spot.
Bloodwork to evaluate lung problems
Various blood tests can help give physicians important information about your lung health and function, especially when dealing with inflammatory or infectious lung diseases. Examples include:
- Complete blood count (CBC) – Checks levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This can detect anemia or infection.
- Basic metabolic panel – Kidney and electrolyte tests can show fluid retention or blood oxygenation issues.
- Inflammatory markers – CRP and ESR can indicate inflammation associated with lung disease.
- Arterial blood gases – Measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in arterial blood.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis test – Checks for TB infection.
Your doctor may order additional blood tests to monitor specific lung conditions. Discuss any abnormal blood test results with your physician.
Consider an exercise stress test
An exercise stress test analyzes heart and lung function during physical exertion. It involves:
- Walking briskly on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike as the intensity is increased.
- Having blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG monitored.
- Oxygen saturation measured by a finger probe.
This test diagnoses exercise-induced asthma or cardiovascular problems limiting activity. If you have unexplained shortness of breath or chest pain with exercise, your doctor may refer you for this test. It provides valuable data on lung limitations and exercise capacity.
Evaluate your living space for lung irritants
Take a careful look at your home and work environments to identify anything that could negatively impact your lung health. Be aware of:
- Tobacco smoke
- Strong sprays, odors, or fumes
- Mold or excessive humidity
- Dust mites or pet dander
- Radon gas
- Asbestos materials
- Chemical cleaning products
- Particle pollution
- Heavy traffic areas
Reducing exposure to lung irritants or allergens at home and work can prevent exacerbations of respiratory conditions. Consider investing in air purifiers and ventilation systems as well.
Conclusion
There are many straightforward ways to monitor your respiratory health from the comfort of home. However, see your doctor if you experience chronic or worsening symptoms of lung problems. Early diagnosis and treatment of underlying conditions can help preserve lung function.
With a combination of watchful symptom tracking, simple breathing and oxygen tests, and regular medical check-ups, you can effectively evaluate the status of your lungs. This empowers you to optimize lung health so you can breathe easy as you age.