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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

How Asthma Inhalers Work

by Pena Gaharu

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.

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