Prior to Test

• Review your medicine with your doctor. You may need to stop taking some before testing.
• Do not eat, smoke, or exercise for 4 to 8 hours before testing.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing.

Description of Test

The exact steps will depend on the reason for the test. In most cases, the procedure will be as follows:

1. You will be asked to loosen tight clothing, or jewelry. You will need to wear dentures if you have them.
2. You will sit in a chair. A soft clip will be put on your nose. All of your breathing will need to pass through your mouth.
3. The doctor will ask you to breathe into a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is attached to a tool that measure breath.
4. You will be asked to breathe in and out in different ways.
5. The team will watch you carefully for dizziness, trouble breathing, or other problems.

You may be given medicine to inhale after certain tests. The tests will then be repeated after the medicine has started to work.

Peak Flow Meter Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Other steps that may be needed include:

• A brief period of exercise before the test.
• A small clip will be attached to your finger. It will measure the amount of oxygen in your blood.
• A special chemical will be given as a mist. If you have asthma the chemical will cause a spasm in the airway. This is only done under medical care.
• You may be asked to breathe in small amount of carbon monoxide for 1 minute. It will be followed to see how much gets into your blood. This will show how well oxygen is getting into your blood.

After Test

Rest until you feel able to leave. You may have wheezing, coughing, and/or problems breathing. It will be treated before you leave.

How Long Will It Take?

20 to 45 minutes

Will It Hurt?

The test does not hurt. You may feel some symptoms during or right after testing.