Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
This allows you to be comfortable and at ease with no restraints.
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
Salbutamol: Ventolin, Asmol, Airomir, Zempreon
Terbutaline: Bricanyl,
Ipratropium: Atrovent,
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.