Testing and Treatment

Our goal at Advocare Pulmonary and Sleep Specialists is to keep our focus on your overall lung and sleep health. We can provide you with the following services at both of our office locations:

• Home Sleep Studies: A home sleep study is an easy and convenient way to diagnose sleep apnea while allowing patients to stay within the comforts of their own home. During a home sleep study information is collected through sensors applied to the body prior to going to sleep. The information collected will then be reviewed and used to develop a treatment plan. 
  

• Insomnia Home Sleep Testing: Insomnia home sleep studies collect information that allows your physician to judge your actual time spent sleeping as well as the amount of time spent in each of the stages of sleep. This information is then used to get you the help you need so that you can begin getting a restful night's sleep.

• CPAP Management: CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is one of several ways available for treating sleep apnea. A device is worn during sleep which delivers a continuous flow of air into the nose and mouth allowing airways to remain open so patients can breathe regularly while asleep. Use of CPAP can help stop snoring, decrease daytime sleepiness and can lower blood pressure. Our practice has respiratory therapists available to assist with CPAP education and questions Monday through Friday.

• Bilevel PAP/AutoSV Management: Bilevel PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) is similar to CPAP but rather than a continuous pressure, the Bilevel machine allows inhale and exhale pressures to be set at different levels. As long as the pressure is set high enough when breathing in, a lower pressure can be used while exhaling. Our practice has respiratory therapists available to assist with Bilevel PAP/AutoSV education and to answer any questions you may have.

• Oral Appliances For Sleep Apnea: Worn during sleep, an custom made, oral appliance fits like a mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway. Oral appliance therapy can be an effective treatment option for patients suffering with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. 

• Pulmonary Function Testing: Pulmonary Function Testing measures how well your lungs are working by determining how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, how much air your lungs can hold and how well your lungs add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from your blood. Pulmonary Function Testing is used to help determine the causes for shortness of breath and can assist with the diagnosis of lung diseases like asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.

• Six Minute Walk Test: The Six Minute Walk Test is used to determine a patient's level of fitness and degree of shortness of breath. During this test you will be asked to walk back and forth along a predetermined pathway while your heart rate, blood oxygen level, blood pressure and level of fatigue are monitored. The distance you walk in the time allotted paired with your body's response to the exercise help indicate the fitness of your lungs.

• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Testing: Alpha-1 deficiency is the most common inherited cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Common symptoms of Alpha-1 include chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and reoccurring chest colds. A simple blood test can determine whether you are suffering from an Alpha-1 deficiency.

• Injections for Asthma: While many patients are able to control their asthma with inhaler therapy, some patients with severe asthma that is difficult to treat even with the use of more than one inhaler. Biologic therapy helps patients with severe asthma by targeting different molecules in the body that contribute to asthma. Let Advocare Pulmonary and Sleep Specialists determine if Xolair, Nucala or Fasenra are right for the treatment of your asthma.

• Genetic Testing for Various Pulmonary Diseases: Please contact our office to learn more.