Breathing Tests

The allergists and asthma doctors at The Asthma Center use pulmonary function breathing tests to diagnose and treat breathing conditions. We use the latest diagnostic technology, and each of our office locations has a on-site Pulmonary Function Laboratory.

Complete Pulmonary Function Tests

A complete pulmonary function test assesses various lung disorders and evaluates the effectiveness of medications in patients with lung problems.  This breathing test is a non-invasive procedure that does not require use of needles, nor is any blood drawn.

In The Asthma Center pulmonary function laboratory, our pulmonary function technician will instruct you on the performance of  various breathing maneuvers designed to measure a variety of lung functions.  Our laboratory staff will encourage you to do your best, as the results depend on you or your child’s full cooperation.  The test may take up to an hour, and your doctor will review the results with you.

IMPORTANT

Please follow the below guidelines as the pertain to you:

• Withhold any of the following for 8 hours:

Inhalers:

Accolate, Advair, Advair Diskus, Advair HFA, Anoro Ellipta, Arcapta Neohaler, Alupent, Atrovent, Breo Ellipta, Brethaire, Brethine, Combivent, Combivent Respimat, Dulera, DuoNeb, Foradil Aerolizer, formoterol, Incruse Ellipta, ipratropium, Maxair, metaproterenol, ProAir HFA, ProAir Respiclick, Proventil, Proventil HFA, salmeterol, Serevent Diskus, Singular, Spiriva HandiHaler, Spiriva Respimat, Stiolto Respimat, Striverdi Respimat,  Symbicort

Tiotropium, Tudorza Pressair, Ventolin HFA, Volmax, Xopenex

Nebulizer Medications:

Accuneb, Albuterol, Albuterol Multidose, Brovana, Cromolyn sodium, Duoneb, Hypertonic saline 3%,  Mucomyst, Performist, Pulmicort respules, and Xopenex

1. Unless your doctor has given you other specific medicine restrictions, all other medications may be taken.
2. Avoid smoking for at least 6 hours prior to testing.
3. Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, or chocolate drinks) and alcohol the morning of your appointment.  You may eat or drink any other foods, in moderation, before your testing procedure.
4. If withholding any medication(s), causes breathing difficulty, please discuss this with your physician as soon as possible.

Methacholine Bronchoprovocation Challenge

This test assesses hyperreactivity of the airways. It will help confirm the presence or absence of clinical asthmatic responses. This breathing test is a non-invasive procedure that does not require use of needles, nor is any blood drawn. It takes about an hour. The methacholine bronchoprovocation challenge is performed by the inhalation of gradually increasing doses of a medicine (methacholine) which will produce a fall in pulmonary function in a person with hyperactive airways.

IMPORTANT
This test should not be done if you have had a recent heart attack or stroke within the past 3 months, if you have uncontrolled hypertension, or if you have a history of aortic aneurysm. Please let the physician or pulmonary technician know if you have one of these conditions. Pregnant or nursing women may get this test only under certain conditions.

The methacholine challenge does not cause an asthma attack, but short-lived symptoms including wheeze, cough, shortness of breath and/or chest tightness may occur. However, many patients experience no symptoms at all. If symptoms occur, they will usually be reversed by therapeutic bronchodilator nebulizer treatment. Delayed or prolonged responses to methacholine are rare.

Please follow the below guidelines as they pertain to you:

1. Withhold all antihistamines for 72 hours.
2. Withhold any of the following for 48 hours: nedocromil, theophylline (Uniphyl, UniDur), and Tilade.
3. Withhold any of the following for 24 hours:  Accolate, Advair, Anoro, Astelin, Atrovent, Breo, Combivent, Dulera, Foradil, formoterol, Incruse, ipratropium, salmeterol, Servent, Sinuglair, Spiriva, Stioloto, Symbicort, tiotropium, Tudorza, Volmax and Zyflo.
4. Withhold any of the following for 8 hours:

Albuterol nebulizer solution, cromolyn, DuoNeb, Intal, metaproterenol, ProAir, Proventil, Ventolin, and Xopenex.

1. Unless your doctor has given you other specific medicine restrictions, all other medications may be taken. (Specifically, you may continue corticosteroids or nasal sprays except for Astelin nasal spray.)
2. Avoid significant exercise or exposure to cold air for at least 2 hours prior to testing.
3. Avoid smoking for at least 6 hours prior to testing.
4. Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, or chocolate drinks) and alcohol the morning of your appointment.  You may eat or drink any other foods, in moderation, before your testing procedure.
5. If withholding any medication(s), causes breathing difficulty, please discuss this with your physician as soon as possible.
6. Due to the nature of this test, we request that family members, except for a parent, not be present in the PFT lab.

6 Minute Walk

This is a physiologically walking test done for 6 minutes with an assessment done during the post walk recovery for 6 minutes.  The procedure incorporates measurement of your heart rate and oxygen saturation rate during and after exercises in addition to an assessment of shortness of breath during the walk and rest period.

IMPORTANT

Please follow these instructions:

1. Arrive at testing location without exertion.   If you need a wheelchair, please let the office know as soon as possible so it is arranged prior to the testing date.
2. Refrain from smoking and passive smoke exposure for one hour prior to the test.
3. Refrain from eating a large meal for one hour prior to the test.
4. For those with respiratory and/or cardiac disease: use all regular medications as prescribed on your normal daily schedule.

Spirometry

This office based pulmonary function testing is done with each office visit for patients with asthma, COPD, or other lung disease.  It is a simple test done with the nursing staff that requires you to take a deep breath in followed by a forced blow out from for at least 4-6 seconds and then a deep breath in.  This test is an essential measurement of control for asthma or COPD and is helpful in the management of your medications.