A lot can be cleaned from the air we exhale. When something goes wrong within our bodies, the things we expel or exhale can be studied to figure out what is going on.
Nitric oxide is produced by the body when there is inflammation or swelling in the respiratory tract. High levels of nitric oxide in exhaled air can help diagnose the following respiratory conditions:
An exhaled nitric oxide test measures the amount of nitric oxide present in your breath each time you exhale. High nitric oxide levels might indicate inflamed or swollen airways caused by certain respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis.
An exhaled nitric oxide test is non-invasive and is similar to a spirometry in Singapore, which is a type of lung function test. It is usually performed in an outpatient setting and takes less than 5 minutes.
You must wear loose and comfortable clothing. Loosen your jewelry as they might restrict your breathing or cause problems with the test. An exhaled nitric oxide test is carried out in the following way:
Lung function tests are non-invasive, this means you will be able to return to your normal activities immediately. Once your respiratory specialist has anaylsed your results, he/she will discuss them with you and decide what the next steps are.
High levels of nitric oxide are often an indication of inflammation in the respiratory tract and asthma. Your test results could indicate the following:
An exhaled nitric oxide test is usually used in individuals for the following reasons:
An exhaled nitric oxide test has little preparation besides avoiding the following at least an hour before the test:
These might affect test results, making them less accurate.
An exhaled nitric oxide test is a relatively safe procedure with a very low risk of side effects. A small amount of people might feel lightheaded from the repeated breathing in and out, but this feeling will go away after a short rest.
Normal levels are <25 of parts per billion (ppb), slightly elevated levels are 25-50 ppb, and highly elevated levels are >50 ppm.