This test involves measuring blood pressure at both ankles and in both arms while the person is at rest.

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) result is used to predict the severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) is a form of non-invasive mechanical ventilation that provides two distinct levels of positive airway pressure during breathing. It can be time-cycled or flow-cycled, meaning it switches between these two pressure levels at specified intervals or in response to the patient's breathing.

BiPAP is used in situations where patients require additional pressure support to facilitate easier breathing. Common conditions that may require positive airway pressure include pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and status asthmaticus.

BiPAP differs from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which maintains a single level of positive airway pressure throughout the entire respiratory cycle and is used for different clinical conditions.

An electrocardiogram (EKG) evaluates the electrical activity of your heart for problems. An EKG translates the heart's electrical activity into line tracings on paper.

The spikes and dips in the line tracings are referred to as waves.

End of the month. This device is similar to the Holter monitor, although it is designed to be worn for a significantly longer period than the standard Holter monitor, allowing it to detect less frequent abnormalities in the heart rhythm. The event is generally worn for a month, and the patient can take the monitor off and on themselves so they can shower. The event monitor requires the patient to be aware of their symptoms as it only records when the patient presses the record button.

The event monitor also requires the patient to call in and send their heart recording. The event monitor can record up to four events at a time before the patient needs to send their recordings over the phone. The EV returned is brought back to SPRHC at the end of the month.

A Holter monitor is a portable device used to record the electrical impulses generated by the heart's activity. It is capable of producing a graph similar to an ECG, or electrocardiogram, which describes the rate, rhythm, and nature of a person's heartbeat. The device will receive input from several electrodes (5) attached to the chest. The patient can wear the gadget, and the primary difference between this type of device and a normal ECG is the duration of time during which heart activity is monitored.

The Holter monitor is usually attached to a patient for 24-48 hours. During this time, the patient is asked to adhere to their daily routine, including regular sleep, although excessive activity is not recommended. Following completion of the recording, the device returned to PRHC and the table to extract the recording and send a report to the doctor, depicting the heart activities that took place during the monitored 24-48 hours.

An incentive spirometer is a medical device used to help patients improve the functioning of their lungs. It is provided to patients who have undergone any surgery that might compromise respiratory function, particularly surgery to the lungs themselves, as well as to patients recovering from cardiac or other surgeries involving extended periods under anesthesia and prolonged in-bed recovery. The incentive spirometer is also used for patients recovering from pneumonia or rib fractures to help minimize the risk of fluid accumulation in the lungs. It can also be used by wind instrument players seeking to enhance their airflow.

A nebulizer is a medication delivery device used to administer medication in the form of a fine mist, which is inhaled into the lungs. Nebulizers are commonly used to treat cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD, and other respiratory diseases or disorders.

Overnight Pulse Oximetry is a simple test that uses a small device placed on a finger to emit infrared light and measure oxygen saturation levels. The probe is worn on the finger during the night while the patient sleeps and returns in the morning. The results will be uploaded from the device to a computer.

The peak expiratory flow, also known as peak expiratory flow rate, is a person's maximum speed of expiration, as measured with a peak flow meter—a small, handheld device used to monitor a person's ability to exhale air. It measures the airflow through the bronchi, thus determining the degree of obstruction in the airways.

Measures the amount of air the patient inhales and exhales, which can tell how well your lungs are working. Multiple levels of testing are available.

What equipment?

The plethysmography test requires the use of a clear booth in which the pressure is increased or decreased. The patient breathes through a tube while the pressure changes. SPRHC uses the same model as that used in a major Denver hospital. This is the only machine of its kind in Southern Colorado.

Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive method for monitoring a person's oxygen level. In its most common application mode, a sensor device is placed on a thin part of the patient's body, typically a fingertip or earlobe, or in the case of an infant, on the foot.

The stress test is performed in our hospital under the supervision of a Cardiologist. The stress test is a treadmill test in which the patient is connected to a special 12-lead EKG monitor, a blood pressure cuff, and a pulse oximeter while walking on a treadmill.

The patient walks at increasing speeds and inclines on the treadmill while the Doctor watches for any abnormalities in the heart. The test continues until a target heart rate is reached or the patient has symptoms such as chest pain or dizziness.

Additionally, a stress echocardiogram is now available. This involves the same testing as a stress treadmill, with the addition of an echocardiogram performed while the heart is still beating at an increased rate. A stress echocardiogram, or stress echo, uses ultrasound imaging to show how well your heart muscle is working to pump blood throughout your body.