Inhalers are one of the fundamental strategies in the administration of asthma by supplying the lungs with the necessary medication. Correct strategy in handling an inhaler can lead to a decrease in the degree of manifested asthmatic effects for patients with asthma and, therefore, the improvement of the general quality of life for those people. These are easy instructions that will help you learn more about the correct way of using an asthma inhaler.
1. Know the Type of Inhalers Available in the Market
There are primarily two types of asthma inhalers: The two categories of delivery devices include Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDIs) and Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs).
- MDIs dispense a fixed quantity of medicine in aerosol droplets and it entails the act of willing and synchronizing the creation of pressure to puff the container and the inhalation of breath.
- DPIs, on the other hand, discharge medicine every time you take a deep breath; hence, it is breath-actuated.
The first consideration any patient should understand is the type of inhaler that has been prescribed to them by their doctor. It is possible to consult your healthcare provider and request that they explain the proper usage of the appropriate inhaler model for you like the flovent generic price.
2. Preparing the Inhaler
The preparation of an inhaler is very important before using it. For MDIs, the patient should shake the inhaler before every use to ensure the medication is mixed well. Some MDIs too need to be primed especially when one has not used the inhaler or has not used it for some time.
Primers are used in blowing 1 or 2 puffs into the air to observe whether the inhaler is functioning or not. Preparatory steps mainly consist of having a dose ready by twisting the DPI or inserting a capsule as the case of certain DPIs may require.
3. Inhaler Technique
The proper way in which the inhaler has to be held is crucial to making certain that the dosage gets into the lungs. To exhale MDIs, begin by removing all the air in your lungs through an expelled breath. Put the mouthpiece somewhere in your mouth and ensure your lips are firmly around it.
Breathe out deeply and push down on the inhaler to unlock the medication while taking in a slow breath at the same time. This shall be done by choosing to hold your breath for approximately 10 seconds to help ensure that the medication takes root and forms a deposit in your lungs before exhaling.
For DPIs, purge the device completely, then seal the mouthpiece with your lips, and rapidly and fully inhale. This is so because DPIs are dependent on your breath to propel the medication, therefore a forceful one is vital. Taking a deep breath to fill your lungs and immediately putting your mouth shut helps take the medicine deeper inside your lungs.
4. Cleaning and Maintenance
It may not be common knowledge but proper care of your inhaler will ensure that it is always clean and efficient. With regards to MDIs, the metal canister has to be taken out from the plastic holder and the holder has to be washed with warm water every week. Let it dry on its own to the point where you are sure you won’t want to disturb it with water.
Among them, it is important not to wash the metal canister with water. In the same regard, cleaning for DPIs simply entails washing the mouthpiece using a dry cloth as recommended by the manufacturer. Another important precaution is that one should not use water to clean DPIs as that may interfere with the medicine.
5. Monitoring Usage
Monitoring the frequency of using your inhaler is crucial to living with asthma and controlling the condition. There are some inhalers like flovent generic price that come with a dose counter to assist a user in the punctilious measurement of the dosage remaining.
In case your inhaler doesn’t have a counting mechanism, you could use a calendar or a smartphone application to count the number of puffs that have been used. This way makes sure that there is always another inhaler ready in case one runs out of the required doses. It should also be observed that some of the devices, such as inhalers, have specific time limits for use, so they need to be replaced occasionally.