How to choose an inhaler

Increasingly, doctors for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract recommend inhalation using special devices - inhalers. Doctors call the advantages of this type of treatment:

• reducing the duration of action of medications, since the drug reaches the area requiring treatment directly;
• no additional burden on the gastrointestinal tract that occurs when taking medications orally;
• reducing the dosage of the drug, since the active substance is delivered specifically to the site of the disease;
• reducing the financial costs of treatment by reducing the amount of the drug used.

The doctor recommended using a household inhaler, you appreciated the benefits of this type of treatment and decided to purchase the device. But in a specialized store (pharmacy) their selection is quite large. How do you decide which device is needed? To do this, you need to learn about their features and types, evaluate the parameters, and also get acquainted with recommendations for the right choice.

Types and features of household inhalers

Inhalers are divided according to their operating principle into four types:

1. Steam (heat-moist). These devices are used for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases. Warm-moist household inhalers generate steam by heating the medicine to the required temperature. The device is filled mainly with herbal decoctions and essential oils. The size of the sprayed particles is at least 10 microns. An undoubted advantage of purchasing this device is its low price. The steam inhaler cannot be used in case of elevated body temperature (above 37.5°), tuberculosis and some cardiovascular diseases. Not all medications can be exposed to high temperatures.
2. Compressor. TOThe compressor creates a powerful stream of air, which breaks down the medicine into tiny particles and creates an aerosol cloud. This nebulizer can be refilled with any solutions intended for inhalation. A significant disadvantage is the high noise level during operation.
3. Ultrasonic. LThe medicine is converted into an aerosol using ultrasound. Nebulizers of this type are compact and almost silent, but they cannot be used for nebulizing antibiotics, hormonal and some other drugs. This is due to the fact that due to ultrasonic exposure, the active substance of the medication is destroyed.
4. Electronic mesh (mesh-nebulizeRs, membrane). The treatment solution is broken into liquid dust, passing through a vibrating plate with many holes.These devices are compact, silent, can be battery operated, and are suitable for spraying all medicinal solutions, but are very expensive and require constant cleaning of parts.

Often, all these devices are combined with one word “nebulizer”. This is incorrect, because steam inhalers do not belong to this type, since a nebulizer is a device that converts liquid into an aerosol.

Attention! Not all medications can be used with equal benefit in different inhalers. If the doctor said that the procedure requires a nebulizer, then do not use a steam inhaler! If it has been indicated that it is inadmissible to operate an ultrasound device, then this does not need to be done.

Parameters to pay attention to when choosing inhalers

To make it easier to choose a household inhaler, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic parameters of different devices.

What size are the sprayed particles?

The effectiveness of treating diseases depends on the size of the sprayed particles. The smaller the particle size, the greater the range of their penetration. If the drug particles at the outlet have a diameter of 8–10 microns (microns), then inhalation will be advisable for treating the oral cavity (prevention and treatment of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, etc.). A similar result is typical for steam inhalers.

Aerosol dust particles 5–8 microns in size settle in the nasopharynx. It is recommended to purchase devices that give a similar result for the treatment of diseases of the inner surface of the larynx and nasopharynx, including sore throat and rhinitis.

Nebulizers that spray a solution with a particle size of 3 to 5 microns are used to relieve swelling and inflammation in the trachea and bronchi.

Particles of 1–3 microns reach the lower respiratory tract, which means they are suitable for treating inflammatory processes in the lungs.

The smallest particles of the solution (0.5 - 2 microns) penetrate into the alveoli - remote areas of the respiratory tract.

Manufacturers of household inhalers always indicate the size of the particles produced by the device. When choosing a device, you must remember that you will use it more than once, so select the average particle size accordingly.

Important! To achieve the greatest therapeutic effect, you should choose an inhaler with a particle size range from 2 to 8 microns. These nebulizers are universal in use.

What type of drug delivery is used in the device?

The aerosol supply in a household inhaler is divided into 3 types: continuous, manually adjustable and automatically adjustable. Continuous delivery of medication is the most wasteful, since the drug is sprayed all the time, regardless of whether it is inhaled or not.

With manual control, the solution enters the sprayer when a special button is pressed.

The least amount of medicine is consumed if the nebulizer has an automatic liquid supply. The price of such inhalers is quite high.

Volume of container for medicinal product

The volume of the tank for the medicinal solution depends on the size of the apparatus, the method of formation of the aerosol cloud and the principle of drug delivery. In steam inhalers, as well as compressor nebulizers with continuous supply, medication containers can have a volume of 150 ml. This is due to the fact that in such devices the consumption of medicine per inhalation is quite large.In ultrasonic nebulizers, the tank volume does not exceed 70 ml, and in membrane nebulizers - 15 ml.

Attention! Never exceed the permissible time for one cycle of operation of the device. Take breaks between inhalations according to the manufacturer's instructions, even if there is a lot of medicine left in the tank.

Battery operation possible

Some models of household inhalers (mainly ultrasonic and mesh) can be battery operated. Thanks to this feature, the device can be used outdoors if necessary (travel, vacation outside the city, etc.)

Volume during operation

Inhalers differ in the level of noise they produce. The loudest ones are compressor nebulizers.

In the technical documentation of any device, manufacturers indicate the noise level. Compressor and ultrasonic inhalers are characterized by an indicator of 45 dB, for steam inhalers it reaches 30 dB, and for mesh nebulizers it does not exceed 20 dB.

Tips for choosing inhalers

When choosing a household inhaler, you need to decide who, how often and for what purpose (treatment/prevention) will use it.

Inhaler for the whole family

A device intended for the whole family must have a wide range of therapeutic effects so that it can be used for the prevention and treatment of both the upper and lower respiratory tract. Also, a universal inhaler should not have restrictions on the use of medications. Compressor nebulizers best meet these characteristics. The package should include various attachments for both children and adults.

Inhaler for a child

On the medical equipment market, inhalers for children are presented in various bright models. They are often made in the form of funny toys.If you are purchasing a device only for use by a child, pay attention to its volume. Models that are too noisy can frighten the baby. Ideally, a pediatric inhaler should be equipped with an automatic medication delivery system. It is important to choose a model that produces aerosol particles with a diameter of 2 to 8 microns, since such devices have a wide spectrum of action.

Inhaler for allergy sufferers and people with poor health

For those with allergies, the home use of steam and ultrasonic devices for inhalation of hormonal drugs is contraindicated, since the active substance is destroyed under the influence of high temperature and ultrasound. People with poor health are recommended to always have an inhaler on hand (at home, on a trip, in the country, etc.). Therefore, the ideal option would be to purchase a compact membrane nebulizer that can be powered by a battery.

Prevention inhaler

To prevent diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, it is recommended to carry out inhalations using steam and compressor devices. In the first case, heated air improves blood circulation in the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, and essential oils and herbal decoctions have the necessary therapeutic effect. The use of compressor nebulizers allows the use of solutions intended not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of diseases.

Reference! Before purchasing an inhaler, seek the advice of your doctor. The doctor will tell you what criteria you need to use to choose a device specifically for you and your family.