Patient Education · Test Preparation
PATIENT
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FAQs, test preparation guides and health information to help you understand your care at Chest Clinic, Berhampore.
FAQs, test preparation guides and health information to help you understand your care at Chest Clinic, Berhampore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Consider consulting if you have persistent cough (over 3 weeks), breathlessness, wheezing, unexplained chest X-ray findings, recurrent chest infections, or suspected sleep apnoea.
Asthma diagnosis involves clinical history, spirometry with bronchodilator testing, and in selected patients, FeNO and impulse oscillometry.
Inhaled corticosteroids are generally safe at recommended doses. The risk of undertreated asthma typically exceeds the risk from correctly used inhaled therapy.
COPD is confirmed by spirometry showing persistent airflow limitation, combined with symptom assessment, exacerbation history and oxygen saturation.
A thin flexible camera is passed into the airways under sedation and local anaesthesia. Most patients experience minimal discomfort.
Bronchoscopy is generally well tolerated. Sedation and local anaesthesia are used to minimise discomfort.
Polysomnography records breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate and sleep stages overnight to diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders.
Anyone with loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches or resistant hypertension.
Spirometry measures how much air you can breathe in and out and how fast. The key test for diagnosing asthma, COPD and monitoring lung disease.
FeNO (Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide) measures airway inflammation. Raised levels suggest Type 2 eosinophilic inflammation, guiding asthma treatment.
IOS is an advanced lung function test performed during normal quiet breathing. It detects small-airway disease that standard spirometry may miss.
Wear comfortable clothing. Avoid heavy exercise before the test. Follow your doctor advice about inhalers. Do not smoke on test day.
Small drops of allergen extracts are placed on the forearm with a tiny prick. A raised bump after 15 minutes indicates sensitisation. Generally well tolerated.
Test Preparation
Wear comfortable clothing. Avoid heavy exercise. Follow inhaler instructions if advised. No smoking on test day.
Avoid eating and exercise for 1 hour before. No smoking on test day.
Comfortable shoes. Continue usual medications. Rest 10 minutes before. Walk at your own pace.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Bring comfortable nightwear. Continue usual medications unless advised otherwise.
Fast from midnight. Arrange transport home as you cannot drive after sedation. Follow clinic pre-procedure instructions carefully.
Stop antihistamines 5-7 days before as advised. No creams on forearm. Inform the team of all medications.
Avoid heavy exercise. No smoking on test day. Follow specific instructions regarding inhalers if advised.
Bring previous reports, X-rays and CT scans. Mon–Sat, 9 AM – 4 PM.