What is an inhaler for?

Inhalers are used to treat and prevent respiratory diseases. The medical name of the device is nebulizer. It is called an inhaler colloquially. However, this name was also included in official texts.

A nebulizer and an inhaler are almost identical concepts. The only difference is that the nebulizer uses medications, and the inhaler can also work as a steam device.

What exactly are inhalers used for at home and in medical institutions?

The inhaler is used to quickly get rid of various diseases of the respiratory system, since local exposure is a fairly effective method of treatment. The main goal of the procedure is to deliver medication into the respiratory tract in aerosol form within a short period of time.

Using a continuous supply of microscopic particles, a high concentration of the drug is created. In this case, the possibility of side effects is almost zero.

According to the principle of action, inhalers are divided into:

• steam (the action is based on the effect of evaporation of drugs);
• compression (produce an aerosol cloud using a compressor);
• ultrasonic (sprays the medicine in the form of a fine aerosol);
• electronic mesh nebulizers (they are also called mesh, membrane or mesh inhalers).

Importance of using home inhalers

Inhalations at home were previously carried out by inhaling steam from herbal infusions or essential oils in boiling water. Nowadays, the use of portable devices allows physiotherapeutic procedures to be carried out at home.

Benefits of using household inhalers at home

The modern approach to treatment involves delivering the drug directly to the respiratory tract. This is achieved through the widespread use of inhaled forms of drugs.

Thanks to nebulizers, inhalations have become available not only in medical institutions, but also at home to a wide range of patients of all ages. Nebulizer therapy has advantages compared to other types of inhalation:

• Can be used at any age. Since the patient is not required to perform any actions simultaneously with breathing (pressing the canister, etc.).
• There is no need to take a deep breath. This makes it possible to use therapy even in cases of a severe attack of bronchial asthma or in elderly patients.
• High speed of therapeutic effect.
• Possibility of adjusting the size of aerosol particles.
• Almost complete absence of side effects.
• No systemic effect of the drug.
• Ease of use.

Harm that can be caused by using household inhalers

It often happens that patients neglect the rules for using household inhalers. In this case, the medicine does not reach the bronchi, settles in the trachea, in the oral cavity and pharynx, and enters the stomach. The effectiveness of treatment decreases, and patients become distrustful of inhalations.

Harm can also be caused not by the inhalation procedure itself, but by the medicinal mixtures used during it.

Attention! Do not self-medicate. Consult your doctor to select the appropriate treatment.

To avoid negative consequences from the procedure, it is not recommended to perform inhalations in the presence of the following conditions:

• increased body temperature;
• heart failure;
• respiratory failure;
• nosebleeds;
• high blood pressure;
• pre-infarction and post-infarction states;
• individual intolerance to the procedure.

Possible side effects also include symptoms of hyperventilation (dizziness, nausea and cough) that occur if you breathe too deeply during the procedure

Using inhalers at home

The inhaler copes with the treatment of acute and chronic diseases, because the medicine from the device reaches all parts of the respiratory system. The positive effect of inhalation is noticeable from the first procedures, since the medicine does not easily enter the body, and when sprayed, settles directly on the inflamed areas.

For what diseases is it useful to use home inhalers?

The use of nebulizers is effective in the treatment of diseases that require immediate intervention - asthma and allergies.

Another group of diseases for which inhalations are necessary are chronic inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract:

• bronchitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• cystic fibrosis.

The following can be successfully treated with a nebulizer:

• acute respiratory diseases;
• laryngitis;
• pharyngitis;
• diseases of the nervous system (insomnia, depression);
• endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus, obesity).

Inhalers have proven themselves well in the treatment of occupational diseases of singers, teachers, miners and chemists.

Indications for using inhalers at home

Indications for inhalation using a nebulizer are various diseases of the respiratory system.

Nebulizers are designed to solve the following problems:

• relieving bronchospasms;
• sanitation of various parts of the respiratory system;
• removal of edema (bronchi, trachea, larynx);
• removal of mucus from the bronchi and lungs;
• relieving inflammation;
• strengthening immune processes;
• normalization of microcirculation in the nasopharyngeal mucosa;
• protection from exposure to allergens.

Why and in what cases should an inhaler (nebulizer) be used for children?

Depending on the purpose for which the inhaler will be used, you should choose a device for your child. For bronchitis, asthma and allergies, it is not recommended to purchase an ultrasonic nebulizer, as there are restrictions on the use of drugs. In this case, a compressor or electronic mesh device would be optimal. And ultrasound devices are suitable for the treatment of colds.

For infants who cannot yet sit, you need to purchase electronic mesh devices, and for an older child you can buy a compressor or ultrasonic model.

Important! Be sure to consult your pediatrician before purchasing.

You must have an inhaler in a home where there is a child. With the help of such a device, the use of syrups and tablets, which can cause allergic reactions, will be reduced, not to mention their effect on the liver and other internal organs.

There are other criteria that are taken into account when choosing an inhaler for a child:

• Form. Children's inhalers are produced in the form of toys, animals, and fairy-tale characters, so as not to cause fear and reluctance in the child to inhale.
• Material. Parts in contact with the respiratory tract must be made of hypoallergenic plastic.
• Equipment. It is necessary to choose nebulizer models equipped with a set of attachments appropriate for the child’s age.
• Mobility. To be able to use the device in transport and in other places where there is no electricity, give preference to models with batteries or a rechargeable battery.