An exercise induced asthma test involves some simple breathing tests and exercising on a treadmill to assess whether this causes your airways to become narrower.
This test will help us understand if your airways become narrow in response to exercise. This will help us to provide advice on your ongoing treatment.
The test will be performed by two respiratory physiologists. Respiratory physiologists are staff who have extensive training and knowledge in respiratory physiology and performing lung function tests.
Before the test begins the physiologist will explain the test to you in detail and answer any questions that you have.
To begin with you will be asked to perform some breathing tests through a mouthpiece. You will then have ECG stickers attached to your chest to monitor your heart. You will then be asked to exercise on the treadmill for about six minutes. At particular time periods after you have finished exercising you will be asked to repeat the breathing test.
The whole test will last for approximately one hour.
Please do not use your inhalers for one week prior to the appointment.
Salbutamol (Ventolin) and Bricanyl can be used up to 8 hours prior to the appointment.
Please stop taking the following medications prior to the test:
Take all other medication as normal and please bring a list of all medication with you.
Thank you for your co-operation. This will assist us in obtaining accurate information and enable us to provide you with the most appropriate treatment.
Sometimes the test can cause a mild spasm of the airways, which may make you cough or feel tight-chested. This is easily reversed by a common medication (Salbutamol) that is given routinely at the end of the test.
There is no other basic test that would give us this information about the sensitivity of your airways.
The results will be sent to the professional that requested the test. They will then discuss the results with you at your next appointment.
© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published June 2024. Review due June 2027. NBT002877
Telephone: 0117 414 5400
Email: respiratoryphysiology@nbt.nhs.uk