What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic medical condition that inflames and narrows the lung airways, leading to problems with breathing.
The common symptoms associated with asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing on exhaling, coughing or wheezing attacks, and chest tightness or pain.
In some people, asthma is a minor problem. For other people, however, it could be a major health problem that affects daily life activities and could lead to a life-threatening asthma attack. Although asthma cannot be cured, the symptoms associated with asthma can be controlled.
What is Inhaler Therapy?
Inhaler therapy is a type of treatment for respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD, involving the delivery of medication directly into the affected person’s lungs using an inhaler or a nebulizer.
What is an Asthma Inhaler?
An asthma inhaler is a portable, hand-held device that can deliver medications directly to the lungs. It is the most common and effective treatment method for asthma patients.
The asthma inhalers are of several different types and work in different ways. While some inhalers can deliver one medication, others can deliver two or three medications at one time.
Different Types of Asthma Inhalers
The different types of inhalers used for asthma treatment include the following:
- Metered dose inhalers: The medication is held in a pressurized canister. The canister will sit on a handheld container having a mouthpiece. When the canister is pressed, a propellant helps send a medicine puff out of the mouthpiece.
- Dry powder inhalers: They are usually disk or tube-shaped inhalers with a mouthpiece. The medicine is stored as a powder inside containers or capsules. Instead of a propellant, this inhaler involves taking a deep, quick breath to pull out the powder and into the lungs.
- Breath-actuated inhalers: They have a dry powder or aerosol medication. The medication does not spray out of the inhaler but is released when you breathe it in.
- Soft mist inhalers: These inhalers turn liquid medication into fine mist. You can breathe the mist in through the mouth to get the medication to the lungs.
Types of Medications Used in Inhalers
The types of medicines used in inhalers for asthma treatment include those that offer rapid relief during an asthma attack or exacerbation and those medicines that can be taken regularly to manage asthma symptoms or prevent asthma attacks.
These medicines may include short-acting and long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids.
Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator, commonly known as a rescue inhaler, that can help you breathe again quickly, but the effect may only last a couple of hours.
How to Use an Inhaler?
Different types of inhalers have different ways of working. You can contact Dr. Ankit Bansal from Arpit Medi World to guide you on how to use inhaler therapy for asthma. The common steps followed while using an inhaler are:
- Open or take the cap off your inhaler.
- For metered-dose inhalers, you may have to shake the inhaler and spray it into the air as recommended. For some dry powder inhalers, a dose may have to be loaded as suggested.
- Breathe out as much air as possible from the lungs.
- Now put the inhaler in the mouth.
- In the case of a metered-dose inhaler, you will need to breathe in slowly through the mouth and press down on the canister. In the case of a dry powder inhaler, you will breathe in deeply and rapidly. Your breath will pull the medicine out of the inhaler. In the case of a soft mist inhaler, you will release a medication dose while breathing in slowly.
- Remove the inhaler and hold your breath for about 10 seconds to enable the medication to reach the lungs.
- Breathe out slowly through the mouth.
Precautions With Inhalers
When using an inhaler, a few things need to be kept in mind to ensure that it is being used correctly and that you receive maximum benefit from the medication in the inhaler.
The precautions that have to be taken while using inhalers include the following:
- Prime the inhaler (remove the inhaler’s cap, shake it well, and spray a few puffs in the air) before using it for the first time or if using it after more than 2 weeks.
- Shake the inhaler vigorously for 5 seconds before each puff.
- Wait for at least ½ to 1 minute before taking another puff from the inhaler.
- Rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth after using a steroid inhaler.
- Clean your inhaler regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not store the deep powder inhalers in a humid environment, like the bathroom.
- Do not swallow the dry powder inhaler capsules.
- Use the inhaler as prescribed by your doctor and do not stop using it without consulting your doctor.
Myths About Inhalers
There are many myths about inhalers, including the following:
- Inhalers are addictive.
- Inhalers are only recommended for severe cases of asthma.
- Inhalers have major, dangerous side effects.
- Inhalers lead to stunted growth in children.
- Inhalers are the last resort for asthma treatment.
In reality, inhalers are a safe and effective form of treating asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Inhalers are not habit-forming and can be used for people with all types of asthma severities. When used in dosages recommended by the doctor, they have minimal or no side effects and cannot affect the height of growing children. Lastly, inhalers are the best form of treatment for asthma, but certainly not the last resort of treatment.
Conclusion
If you or someone in your family suffers from asthma that impacts their daily quality of life and general health, you can contact Dr. Ankit Bansal, Consultant Pulmonologist, Intensivist, and Interventionist, at Arpit Medi World to help manage your asthma symptoms using inhaler therapy among other asthma treatment methods and enable you to lead an improved quality of life.