How Asthma Inhalers
Work
What are Asthma Inhalers?
Asthma inhalers are devices which are used
for treating asthma, and they are considered as having truly
transformed asthma treatment. Asthma inhalers allow for both children
and adults who suffer from asthma to be able to deliver the medicine
that they require directly to their lungs, and there is a variety of
asthma inhalers available, with the two most common being that of the
metered-dose inhalers and the dry powder inhalers.
Metered-dose asthma inhalers are those which
use a chemical propellant in order to push the medication out of the
inhaler, and the medication itself may be released either by squeezing
the canister or by that of direct inhalation. The dry powder asthma
inhalers, on the other hand, are ones which don’t use that of
a chemical propellant to push the medication out, but rather the
medication is released by the patient inhaling more rapidly than they
would with a traditional metered-dose inhaler.
These inhalers can be used to deliver that
of a wide variety of different medications, with the most common being:
short-acting bronchodilators, long-acting bronchodilators,
corticosteroids, cromolyn or nedocromil, and corticosteroid plus
long-acting bronchodilator.
Dependant upon which type of inhaler you are
dealing with, either the more traditional metered-dose or the dry
powder inhaler, will result in the instructions and basic working
methods that you will have. For instance, with the metered-dose
inhalers, and these work by including that of a pressurized canister
which contains measured doses of medication inside of it, and by
squeezing the top of the canister for use you will then convert the
medication into a fine mist, which goes down the throat.
The dry powder inhalers, on the other hand,
work by requiring the patient to place their lips on the mouthpiece and
then inhale extremely rapidly, and in fact, some people find these
types of inhalers easier because of the fact that hand-lung
coordination is not required with the dry powder inhalers, but it is
with the metered-dose inhalers.
However, one factor that is incredibly
important and yet surprisingly overlooked, is the importance of using
the inhalers properly. Many people find it difficult to take their
asthma medication regularly, and however it should be known that even
though it may be difficult, for one not to take their asthma medication
regularly means that they may have more serious problems later on. If
necessary, you can always consult your physician and ask them for a
demonstration on how to use the inhaler properly.
|
