Question 1

Inhaler Technique Videos

Accepted Answer

https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/living-with-asthma/how-to-videos
https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/?search=inhaler%20fact%20sheet

Question 2

Exercise and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Accepted Answer

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/pulmonary-rehab
https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/support-services/lung-disease-and-exercise/ 
https://functionallungs.com/

Question 3

Quitting Smoking

Accepted Answer

https://www.icanquit.com.au/         
https://www.quit.org.au/

Question 4

Asthma

Accepted Answer

http://nationalasthma.org.au/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma

Question 5

COPD

Accepted Answer

https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/copd/overview/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd

Question 6

Bronchiectasis

Accepted Answer

https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/conditions/bronchiectasis/overview/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/bronchiectasis

Question 7

Pulmonary Fibrosis

Accepted Answer

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/interstitial-lung-disease
https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/copd/overview/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/hypersensitivity-pneumonitis

Question 8

Lung Cancer

Accepted Answer

https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/conditions/lung-cancer/overview/
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/lung-cancer/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer
https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/?search=mesothelioma&user_category=31&condition=14

Question 9

Pneumonia

Accepted Answer

https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/pneumonia/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/mac-lung-disease
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/nontuberculous-mycobacteria
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis

Question 10

Respiratory Viruses

Accepted Answer

https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/the-common-cold/
https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/influenza/

Question 11

Lung Transplant

Accepted Answer

https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/lung-transplantation-fact-sheet/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/lung-transplant

Question 12

Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing

Accepted Answer

This allows you to be comfortable and at ease with no restraints.

Question 13

36 Hours before your test (New patients only): Withhold all long acting inhalers (if able).          These include:

Accepted Answer

Flixotide, Pulmicort, Arnuity, Alvesco, QVAR, 
Seretide, Symbicort, Cipla, Flutiform, DuoResp, Breo, Fostair, 
Spiriva, Bretaris, Seebri, Incruse, Onbrez, Serevent, Oxis Spiolto, Ultibro, Brimica, Anoro,
Trelegy, Trimbow, Enerzair

To find your inhaler, have a look at this poster

Question 14

6 hours before your test: Withold any short acting inhalers (if able).          These include:

Accepted Answer

Salbutamol: Ventolin, Asmol, Airomir, Zempreon
Terbutaline: Bricanyl, 
Ipratropium: Atrovent,

Question 15

2 hours before your test:  Do not drink coffee, exercise, smoke, or eat any of the following

Accepted Answer

Vegetables
Spinach
Lettuce
Beetroot
Celery
Chervil
Radish
Turnips
Fruits
Strawberries
Currants
Raspberries
Cherries
Gooseberries
Processed Meats
Ham
Bacon
Salami
Smoked chicken
Pastrami
Other
Alcohol
Caffeine
Cigarettes
Exercise

Question 16

Please tell us if you have any of the following problems, as we may need to delay your test:

Accepted Answer

Cardiac / Heart problems:                                               
      Heart Attack within the last 7 days 
      Pulmonary embolism within the last 7 days
      History of passing out when coughing

Neurological / Brain problems                                        
      Known Cerebral aneurysm, untreated
      Brain Surgery within the last 30 days
      Eye Surgery within the last 7 days
      Recent concussion with ongoing symptoms

Chest or Abdominal surgeries                                         
      Known collapsed lung / pneumothorax in the last 30 days
      Chest / Thoracic surgery within the last 30 days
      Abdominal surgery within the last 30 days
      Fever within the last 7 days

Question 17

Spirometry

Accepted Answer

This involves blowing into a tube and measuring the strength and volume of your exhaled and inspired breath.

An inhaled medication (salbutamol) is then given to see if your breathing improves.

...more information from the American Lung Association

...more information from the Lung Foundation Australia

Question 18

Fractional Concentration of Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)

Accepted Answer

This involves blowing slow and steady into a mouthpiece.

It measures allergic type inflammation within your airways, and suggests responsiveness to an inhaled steroid medication.

...more information

Question 19

Gas Diffusion studies

Accepted Answer

A small fingerprick sample of blood is taken beforehand to measure your haemoglobin level.  You then take a deep breath of a respiratory-gas mix, holding your breath for 10seconds, and exhaling steadily into a mouthpiece.

It measures the total volume of your lungs and  how well your lungs absorb gases from the atmosphere into your blood.

Question 20

Respiratory Muscle Strength Testing

Accepted Answer

This test involves breathing in and out as strong as you can against a closed mouth piece.

The strength of your effort is then calculated.

Question 21

6-minute walk test

Accepted Answer

Walk as fast as you can over a 6 minute period up and down our corridor.  The objective is to walk as far as possible.

Your level of breathlessness, heart rate, oxygen levels, respiratory rate and distance are monitored before, during and after the test.

...more information

Question 22

Asthma challenge test (Bronchoprovocation)

Accepted Answer

This test is used to help diagnose asthma where other tests may not have been able to detect it.

It takes up to an hour to perform.

Under controlled conditions, we try to induce a mild asthma attack.  Baseline spirometry is performed, and then a low dose of inhaled agent (Mannitol) is administered.  The dose of mannitol slowly increases with each inhalation.  Spirometry is repeated between each administered dose to assess response.  The test stops at the first sign of asthma like reactions, and salbutamol (Ventolin) is given to reverse any asthma response.

...more information

Question 23

CT-Guided Lung Biopsy

Accepted Answer

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/ct-scan-guided-lung-biopsy

Question 24

Bronchoscopy and EBUS

Accepted Answer

https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/bronchoscopy-fact-sheet/
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/bronchoscopy
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/endobronchial-ultrasound-ebus

Question 25

Lung Resection

Accepted Answer

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/lobectomy

Question 26

Pleural (Chest) Drain

Accepted Answer

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/chest-tube-procedure

Question 27

Wear comfortable clothing, specifically a loose T-shirt, that you would be ready to sleep in

Accepted Answer

The device will be fitted on you, during the home sleep study appointment - so wearing a comfortable T-shirt is necessary for two important reasons; Your own comfort, and so we can ensure we collect the best possible signal.

Question 28

Ensure you shower before hand, do not apply lotion, or moisturiser

Accepted Answer

In part, the sleep study measures electrical impulses generate by your nervous system and muscles, to ensure the best possible signal, an important prerequisite is to have your skin free of any skin oils, sweat, or lotions as these interfere with the quality of our measurements.

Question 29

Bring a hoodie and a hat

Accepted Answer

As you will be leaving the clinic with wires and a device attached to you, you may wish to conceal the attachments when making your way home from the appointment

Question 30

Ladies - please ensure that just one index finger of your choice is FREE FROM NAIL POLISH

Accepted Answer

You will have an oxygen probe attached to your wrist, connected to your index finger. 
Nail polish can significantly underestimate your oxygen saturation, so to avoid that, please keep just one index finger of choice free from nail polish.

Question 31

Overnight Oximetry

Accepted Answer

Overnight oximetry will allow us to gauge how oxygenated you remain during the hours of sleep, this can be particularly useful when assessing the efficacy of a sleep apnea treatment such CPAP, or to elucidate non-specific shortness of breath symptoms. The process involves you taking a home a wrist watch like device with a finger probe which will be attached to your index finger. A note for ladies: Please ensure at least a single index finger is free of nail polish to ensure most accurate signal.

Question 32

Sleep Positional Assesment

Accepted Answer

Certain sleep respiratory conditions can be driven by the position one sleeps in during the night. 
So we use a Night Shift, which is small collar like sensor, with multi purpose functions:
 In some instances it will help us establish a pattern of low oxygen events related the position you are sleeping at night. It can also be used to in a therapeutic context, when configured to vibrate at any instance it detects you are on your back, which will ultimately encourage you to turn your side, and potentially reduce snoring and instances of low oxygen at night.

Question 33

Actigraphy

Accepted Answer

An actigraphy watch will be provided for you to wear for a period of two weeks everyday, all day, with the exception of when you are showering. This will usually by done in conjunction with a sleep diary, to help us determine your sleep pattern, how active you are during your sleep, and the degree of light exposure you get during the day and night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Information Bank

Inhaler Technique Videos

Exercise and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Quitting Smoking

Asthma

COPD

Bronchiectasis

Pulmonary Fibrosis

Lung Cancer

Pneumonia

Respiratory Viruses

Lung Transplant

Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing

36 Hours before your test (New patients only): Withhold all long acting inhalers (if able). These include:

6 hours before your test: Withold any short acting inhalers (if able). These include:

2 hours before your test: Do not drink coffee, exercise, smoke, or eat any of the following

Please tell us if you have any of the following problems, as we may need to delay your test:

Spirometry

Fractional Concentration of Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)

Gas Diffusion studies

Respiratory Muscle Strength Testing

6-minute walk test

Asthma challenge test (Bronchoprovocation)

CT-Guided Lung Biopsy

Bronchoscopy and EBUS

Lung Resection

Pleural (Chest) Drain

Wear comfortable clothing, specifically a loose T-shirt, that you would be ready to sleep in

Ensure you shower before hand, do not apply lotion, or moisturiser

Bring a hoodie and a hat

Ladies - please ensure that just one index finger of your choice is FREE FROM NAIL POLISH

Overnight Oximetry

Sleep Positional Assesment

Actigraphy