Inhalation is considered the most effective way to treat a cough and hay fever. This method has obvious superiority. First, the sprayed medicine comes into contact with almost the entire surface of the mucosa, is absorbed into the blood faster and, as a result, gives the best result and a speedy recovery. Secondly, the effect of drugs goes directly to the respiratory tract, bypassing the long route of taking the drug through the stomach. Besides, with the help of inhalation, microbes are quickly removed from the respiratory system, which facilitates the removal of mucus and sputum.
Inhalers
The inhaler has received great recognition among doctors and patients. This device converts drugs into an aerosol and delivers it to the patient’s airways. Thanks to this device, today inhalation therapy is available not only in the physiological rooms of medical institutions – it is easy and convenient to use an inhaler at home.
Patients of all ages can use inhalation to prevent attacks of bronchial asthma, to facilitate breathing and improve the speed of inspiration, to accelerate the discharge of sputum during acute respiratory diseases.
When is the use of a nebulizer effective?
Inhalations are used not only as a means of combating and eliminating the disease but also as preventive measures to maintain immunity, for the treatment of fungal infections of the mucosa. The range of diseases that can be treated using the inhalation method is quite wide, it can be divided into several groups:
- The first group includes diseases manifested by seizures and requiring urgent intervention. With an exacerbation of the allergic and asthmatic disease, inhalation is considered the main method of administering a drug. The drug for inhalation is prescribed by an allergist;
- The second group includes chronic inflammatory pathologies of the respiratory tract: chronic bronchitis, chronic rhinitis and others. The presence of an inhaler is especially important in families with small children who are prone to frequent colds. Inhalation of medication to treat a cough means speeding up the healing process. Since inhalation is a local therapy, the effect of the drug goes directly to the foci of the disease;
- The third group includes acute respiratory diseases: laryngitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis;
- The fourth group includes diseases associated with professional activities. Such dangerous professions include actors, miners, chemists, etc.;
- The fifth group includes diseases of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and other systems.
When it is recommended to use an inhaler?
Let’s take a closer look at the question of which cough can be treated with inhalation. Most often, inhalations are used for dry tracheitis cough, which occurs against the background of acute respiratory viral infections, which is accompanied by sore throat and damage to the vocal cords. In this case, inhalation therapy relieves laryngeal edema.
A wet cough also requires inhalation treatment. When treating a wet cough, it is necessary to dilute sputum that is difficult to separate and to remove it from the bronchi as soon as possible. With a dry and wet cough, doctors often prescribe inhalations with ambroxol. The drug belongs to the group of mucolytics and mucoregulators and promotes the formation of mucus. Inhalation with acetylcysteine is used only with viscous sputum to improve expectoration. Ventolin-based inhalations are suitable for the prevention and symptomatic treatment of bronchial asthma, as well as for eliminating asthma attacks. Dioxidine has disinfectant properties and a wide spectrum of activity. Usually, inhalation with dioxidine is prescribed for a long course of the disease after the ineffectiveness of other drugs.
The treatment regimen and composition of the solution is determined only by the doctor.
How to use an inhaler?
Before inhalation, the first thing to do is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to avoid getting germs. Then you need to connect all parts of the device, carefully studying the attached instructions. After that, the required amount of the drug substance is poured into the inhaler cup. When everything is ready for the procedure, inhalation therapy can be started. It is important to be sure of the suitability of the drug, so every time you need to check the expiration date.
The duration of inhalation is determined by a doctor. After finishing, all parts of the nebulizer are washed under hot water without using any improvised means (brushes) using a normal soap solution.
How to use an inhaler?
Inhalations will give the desired effect after a few procedures. However, not everyone knows how to do inhalation correctly. There are a number of rules that cannot be neglected:
- start inhalation after 1-1.5 hours after eating and conducting serious physical exertion;
- during the procedure you should not be distracted by reading and talking;
- clothing should not constrain the neck area so as not to impede breathing;
- during inhalation therapy, smoking is not recommended;
- for diseases of the nasopharynx, nose or paranasal sinuses, it is recommended to carry out nasal inhalation using a mask or special nozzles;
- for diseases of the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs, the aerosol should be inhaled through the mouth, while breathing should be even. Taking a deep breath, you need to try to hold your breath for 2 seconds and calmly exhale through your nose;
- before inhalation, you do not need to take drugs that improve sputum discharge and also rinse your mouth with antiseptic agents;
- after the procedure, rinse your mouth with boiled water cooled to room temperature. If you used a mask for inhalation, it is also necessary to rinse the face and eyes;
- it is forbidden to eat, drink and talk for 15–20 minutes after inhalation;
- inhalations with drugs should be done up to 3 times a day.
When does a child need inhalation?
Most often, children are recommended to do inhalation with an inhaler to treat obstructive bronchitis. Procedures using drugs can only be performed as prescribed by a doctor and in strict accordance with the recommendations of the doctor. The inhalation for children under 5 years should last 3 minutes, the frequency – 1-2 times a day. You can treat any type of cough with inhalation.
When you should you not use the inhalation method
Despite the effectiveness of inhalation, there are a number of contraindications for inhalation. The method cannot be used if the patient has:
- a tendency to nose and lung bleeding;
- purulent tonsillitis;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system (heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension, stroke);
- pathology of the respiratory system.
Thus, each specific case is individual. Before inhalation, you’d better consult your doctor in order to identify contraindications.
What medications can be used in a nebulizer?
Pharmaceuticals produce special medicinal solutions for inhalation with a nebulizer. Some of them are used to dilute sputum, others are used as antibiotics and antiseptics. All drugs and their dosage are determined solely by the doctor, who controls the effectiveness of their effects during treatment.
It is forbidden to use oils in nebulizers, as they increase the risk of allergies (an allergist must warn the patient before treatment) and the occurrence of so-called “oil pneumonia”. For oil inhalations, a special steam inhaler is used.
Suspensions and syrups cannot be used in most devices – their use can lead to damage to the device. Self-prepared decoctions and herb infusions must be filtered with special care so that suspended particles do not remain in the solution.
Category: Asthma Information
Tags: coughing, Inhalation, inhaled corticosteroids, inhaler