Breath Test

A breath test measures the levels of gases that you breathe out into the air. It’s a non-invasive way to diagnose digestive conditions including:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection
• Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Lactose intolerance
• Fructose intolerance

When your body is unable to digest certain carbohydrates, bacteria in your intestines break them down and convert them into gases. These gases pass through the intestinal mucosa and enter your bloodstream. They then travel to the lungs and are exhaled.

A breath test captures this exhaled air and analyzes it for certain gases such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen.

This page will discuss the types of breath tests that we offer and how they work. We’ll also highlight what you should and shouldn’t do when preparing for a breath test.

Pylori is a bacteria that can attack the lining of the stomach and lead to medical complications. But some people with this infection don’t experience any symptoms.

H. Pylori can diagnose the following conditions:

• Gastritis
• Gastroparesis
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Stomach cancer

Pylori bacteria produce an enzyme called urease, which breaks down urea and converts it into carbon dioxide and ammonia. An H. Pylori breath test measures the levels of carbon dioxide that you exhale.

This test is relatively quick and takes about 10 minutes to complete. It’s also known as a urease breath test.

A breath test for H. Pylori includes the following steps:

1. You drink a solution containing urea
2. We measure your breath
3. High levels of carbon dioxide are a sign that H. pylori bacteria are present in the stomach

A hydrogen breath test can diagnose conditions such as SIBO, lactose intolerance, and fructose intolerance. We’ll discuss these 3 types of hydrogen breath tests below.

Breath Test for SIBO

SIBO results in an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. This causes bacteria to break down carbohydrates sooner than normal.

Symptoms of SIBO may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Gas

A breath test for SIBO involves the following steps:

1. You drink a beverage containing lactulose (a man-made sugar)
2. We measure your breath at regular intervals for 3 hours
3. High levels of hydrogen or methane are a sign that you may have SIBO

Lactose Breath Test

Lactose intolerance is when your body is unable to digest lactose — a sugar naturally found in dairy products. This occurs when you don’t have the digestive enzyme lactase. Lactose intolerance can result in symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas.

Other foods that commonly contain lactose include:

• Bread
• Cereal
• Chocolate
• Salad dressings

A lactose breath test includes the following steps:

1. You drink a beverage containing lactose
2. We measure the hydrogen in your breath for 3 hours
3. High levels of hydrogen are a sign that you may have lactose intolerance

Fructose Intolerance Breath Test

Fructose intolerance occurs when your small intestine is unable to absorb the sugar fructose. This can cause abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and gas.

Fructose is found in many foods including:

• Fruit
  • Pears
  • Apples
  • Grapes
• Vegetables
  • Peas
  • Zucchini
  • Beans
• Wheat products
  • Bread
  • Pasta
  • Cereal

Fructose is also added to many processed foods in the form of high-fructose corn syrup.

A fructose intolerance breath test includes the following steps:

1. You drink a beverage containing fructose
2. We measure your breath over a period of 3 hours
3. High levels of hydrogen are a sign that you have fructose intolerance

Your doctor will tell you how to prepare for a breath test. You must follow certain guidelines before your test to ensure that the results are accurate. We’ll discuss the different guidelines for preparing for a breath test below.

Breath Test for H. Pylori

A breath test for H. Pylori includes the following guidelines:

• Do not eat or drink 1 hour before your breath test
• No “green goddess” in the last 30 days
  • A liquid mixture of medications that are usually administered in an ER or urgent care setting
• No antibiotics in the last 28 days
• No Sucralfate or Carafate in the last 14 days
• No proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) in the last 14 days
  • Omeprazole
  • Esomeprazole
  • Lansoprazole
  • Hyoscyamine

Hydrogen Breath Test

Before taking a hydrogen breath test, you must fast for 12 hours. This means you can’t consume any food or drink besides water.

You must also follow certain guidelines including:

• No antibiotics in the last 28 days
• No probiotics in the last 14 days
• No bowel purgatives or barium in the last 14 days
• No laxatives in the last 7 days
• No motility agents in the last 2 days
• No smoking for 1 hour before the test
• No sleeping or exercise 1 hour before the test

Dr. Sameer Islam is a gastroenterologist and native of West Texas. He has specialized training to diagnose digestive conditions and heal your symptoms.

If you have questions about breath testing, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.