Know Your Lungs — The Complete Guide to Lung Health Testing
A resource for patients and healthcare professionals. Understand your lung health, recognise warning signs, and use our free interactive self-assessment tools below.
Why it matters
Your lungs work 24/7 — are you taking care of them?
Most lung diseases develop silently over years before symptoms appear. By the time breathlessness, persistent cough, or chest tightness become obvious, significant damage may already have occurred. Early testing and awareness can add decades of healthy breathing to your life.
Chronic inflammation causing airway narrowing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Highly manageable with proper treatment.
Progressive airflow obstruction mostly caused by long-term smoking or pollutant exposure. Early diagnosis changes outcomes dramatically.
The leading cause of cancer death globally. Early-stage CT screening dramatically improves survival rates for high-risk individuals.
Infection causing air sacs to fill with fluid. Ranges from mild to life-threatening. Vaccination significantly reduces risk.
Warning signs
Symptoms you should never ignore
- Persistent cough lasting more than 3 weeks
- Coughing up blood or blood-stained mucus
- Breathlessness on minimal exertion or at rest
- Chest pain or tightness that worsens on breathing
- Persistent wheezing or noisy breathing
- Unexplained fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance
- Recurring chest infections more than twice a year
The tools below are designed for dual use — share them with patients as a pre-consultation screening tool, or use them chairside during clinical assessment. Results include a structured risk summary suitable for patient documentation.
Predicted Peak Flow Calculator
Peak expiratory flow (PEF) measures how fast you can exhale. Your predicted value is based on age, sex, and height. Enter your measured reading from a home peak flow meter to compare against your predicted value.
Simple Breath-Hold Self-Test
Sit upright, breathe normally for 1 minute, take a comfortable breath, then hold it. Record your time using the slider below for an instant rating of your lung capacity and cardiovascular fitness.
Prevention
7 ways to protect your lung health
The single most impactful step. Lung function begins recovering within weeks of quitting.
Aerobic exercise strengthens breathing muscles and improves lung capacity over time.
On high-pollution days, limit outdoor activity especially near busy roads.
Open windows and use exhaust fans. Indoor air can be 5x more polluted than outside.
Critical for COPD and asthma patients. Flu can trigger life-threatening lung complications.
Diaphragmatic breathing strengthens lung muscles and improves daily oxygen exchange.
Age 50+, smokers? Ask your doctor about low-dose CT lung screening — it saves lives.
Concerned about your results?
Don't wait. A simple spirometry test at your clinic takes under 15 minutes and can detect lung conditions years before serious symptoms appear.
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