What is a Lung Function Test?

Lung function tests, which are also called pulmonary function tests (PFT), are tests that can be carried out to find out how well your lungs and airways are working. Lung function tests can assist in the diagnosis of respiratory (breathing) conditions. They can also work out how severe a condition is and help monitor the response to treatments.

They are a simple, non-invasive way to investigate your lung function and performance under specific conditions.

Why are Lung Function Tests Performed?

Lung function tests are often used to help diagnose or assess asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They are also used to assess other conditions that affect breathing, including lung scarring and illnesses that affect the chest or breathing muscles.

What Happens During a Lung Function Test?

The testing involves a series of breathing exercises, which provide a more detailed assessment of lung physiology. You will perform these breathing exercises into a mouthpiece, in different patterns.

Lung function tests usually take between 45 minutes and one hour, though this can vary based on the individual.

How to Prepare for a Lung Function Test

Here are a few pointers to help you prepare, as a general rule. You will receive specific instructions based on the type of test you’re undertaking:

• Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t restrict your breathing
• Bring any inhalers you use, if relevant
• Refrain from the following:
  • Drinking caffeine or alcohol (4 hours prior)
  • Eating a significant amount (2 hours prior)
  • Exercising (1 hour prior)
  • Smoking (1 hour prior)

A heart holter test involves a small monitor, called a “holter”, to measure various things about your heart.

What is a Heart Holter Test?

A heart monitor test involves a small battery-powered medical device that measures your heart rate and rhythm. Electrodes are attached to your chest for 12-24 hours, and these feed the monitor which sits on your waistband. 

Why are Heart Holter Tests Performed?

If you have any concerns about your heart rate or rhythm, a heart holter test is a great way to keep an eye on your heart over the course of a day. It can pick up chest pains, irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias.

If you have symptoms like dizziness, fatigue or chest pain (among others) a heart monitor test can help get to the cause of the problem.

How to Prepare for a Heart Holter Test

There are a few minor considerations ahead of your test. Primarily, shower prior to your appointment as you won’t be able to get it wet whilst attached.

The hair on your chest may need to be shaved prior to attaching, to help the electrodes stick.

What Happens During a Heart Holter Test?

The test assesses and monitors heart rate, to provide relevant information for the doctor at the conclusion of the 24 hours. During the time of the test, you will simply wear the electrodes and the monitor, and go about your daily activities.

You will not remove the monitor or electrodes until the conclusion of the test.

You will probably also be required to keep a time-record about your activities, and any symptoms you experience.

You will also wear the monitor during sleep.

What Happens After a Heart Holter Test?

After the test you’ll return to our practice, where we’ll remove the electrodes and monitor.

We will review the results along with your diary, and make recommendations for next steps and treatment if required.

We are dedicated to helping diagnose your sleep problem, helping you attain the quality of sleep you deserve for your overall health and wellbeing. If you’ve received a referral from your GP, you can undergo a sleep study through Medisleep.

What is a Home Sleep Study?

Sleep studies can be performed in our laboratory or in your home. A home-based sleep study is very similar to a laboratory sleep study, with the key difference being that your sleep in your home. Both involve electrodes and sleep analysis.

Sleep studies are used to measure things like your breathing, heart rate, leg movements, snoring and eye-movements while you sleep. Sleep studies also look at how many times you awaken during sleep.

A home sleep study is essentially the same as a laboratory sleep study, without the presence of a sleep specialist. You still wear electrodes and monitors.

Why are Home Sleep Studies Performed?

Sleep studies can tell us a lot of things about why you might be having trouble sleeping, or getting the best rest you can. We use them to determine whether you might have a sleep disorder, and inform next steps to get you the best possible night’s rest.

Home sleep studies replace laboratory sleep studies usually where a laboratory is not available, if it’s difficult for the patient to get to the laboratory, or if there’s a clear reason why a laboratory study is not desirable.

Depending on your eligibility, you may be able to claim your sleep study through Medicare, and be bulk billed.

How to Prepare for a Sleep Study

We like to analyse your sleep as closely to your normal state as possible, so it’s best not to do anything out of the ordinary the day before (like running a marathon!)

Bring comfortable clothes for sleeping, and reading material, if that helps you get to sleep.

Above all, relax. There’s nothing to worry about with a laboratory sleep study.

What Happens During a Home Sleep Study?

In the process of making your appointment, we will explain what is involved in detail.

For a home sleep study, you will come to our practice to get set up. Once you arrive we will place some electrodes on certain points along your jaw and chest to monitor your breath and heart rate throughout the night. Then you will go home for sleep.

While you sleep, an EEG monitors your sleep stages and your cycles of REM and nonREM or NREM sleep during the night, to identify possible disruptions in the pattern of your sleep.

A sleep study will also oxygen levels in your blood (through a sensor—there are no needles involved), heart and breathing rates, snoring, and body movements.

When you get up in the morning you’ll come back to the practice so we can remove the electrodes and talk about your night.

What Happens After a Home Sleep Study?

After the sleep study, we work with our Sleep Specialists to analyse and compile the results. Once these have been completed we will contact you with the report and recommend your next steps to a better night’s sleep!

We are dedicated to helping diagnose your sleep problem, helping you attain the quality of sleep you deserve for your overall health and wellbeing. If you’ve received a referral from your GP, you can undergo a sleep study through Medisleep.

What is a Laboratory Sleep Study?

Sleep studies can be performed in our laboratory or in your home. They are used to measure things like your breathing, heart rate, leg movements, snoring and eye-movements while you sleep. Sleep studies also look at how many times you awaken during sleep.

Laboratory Sleep Studies are carried out in the clinical environment. This allows a Sleep Specialist to monitor your sleep in real-time. However, it’s not the all-white, sterile “clinic” you might imagine. You’ll sleep in a comfortable bed, in a bedroom.

We make it as comfortable as possible. We want you to relax enough for sleep, after all!

Why are Laboratory Sleep Studies Performed?

Sleep studies can tell us a lot of things about why you might be having trouble sleeping, or getting the best rest you can. We use them to determine whether you might have a sleep disorder, and inform next steps to get you the best possible night’s rest.

Depending on your eligibility, you may be able to claim your sleep study through Medicare, and be bulk billed.

How to Prepare for a Sleep Study

We like to analyse your sleep as closely to your normal state as possible, so it’s best not to do anything out of the ordinary the day before (like running a marathon!)

Bring comfortable clothes for sleeping, and reading material, if that helps you get to sleep.

Above all, relax. There’s nothing to worry about with a laboratory sleep study.

What Happens During a Laboratory Sleep Study?

In the process of making your appointment, we will explain what is involved in detail.

Once you arrive we will place some electrodes on certain points along your jaw and chest to monitor your breath and heart rate throughout the night.

While you sleep, an EEG monitors your sleep stages and your cycles of REM and nonREM or NREM sleep during the night, to identify possible disruptions in the pattern of your sleep.

A sleep study will also oxygen levels in your blood (through a sensor—there are no needles involved), heart and breathing rates, snoring, and body movements.

What Happens After a Laboratory Sleep Study?

After the sleep study, we work with our Sleep Specialists to analyse and compile the results. Once these have been completed we will contact you with the report and recommend your next steps to a better night’s sleep!