5 Things You Need to Know About the Different Asthma Inhalers

1. Bronchodilators Relieve Asthma Symptoms

Reliever inhalers are used after asthma symptoms appear. The bronchodilator drugs relax the muscles in your airways, allowing them to open up and alleviate the wheezing, coughing or other symptoms you are experiencing. Reliever inhalers are used by those who experience asthma symptoms only occasionally. Those who experience symptoms several times a week usually use prevention inhalers.

2. Steroids Prevent Symptoms

Preventer inhalers are used every day to prevent symptoms from appearing. Usually steroids are used in these inhalers, although other drugs can also be used. It takes one to two weeks for steroids in the body to become effective. Once they start working, the steroids reduce the inflammation of the airways which makes them less likely to narrow and cause asthma flare ups. Once the drugs start working, a reliever inhaler may no longer be needed. If symptoms continue, a long acting bronchodilator inhaler which continues to work for up to 12 hours after it is used may be prescribed in combination with a preventer inhaler.

3. Pressurized Inhalers Releases one Dose at a Time

The most common device used for ingesting asthma drugs is the pressurized metered dose inhaler (MDI), more commonly known as an asthma pump. When the top of the inhaler is pressed one dose of the medicine is released in the form of a gas which is inhaled by the user. The asthma pump can be difficult to use, as it requires you to press the canister and breathe in simultaneously. Breath-activated MDIs need less coordination for proper use because instead of pushing the top to release a dose, you simply need to breathe in at the mouthpiece.

4. Spacers Make Asthma Pumps Easier to use

Spacers are plastic devices that help children who are not yet coordinated enough to use an asthma pump alone. Spacers are essentially holders of asthma drugs that allow a child to press the inhaler and then breathe in the medicine whenever he is ready.

5. Dry Powder Inhalers and Nebulizers can be Used too

Other types of devices can also be used to ingest asthma drugs. Dry powder inhalers are used to breathe in a powder form of asthma drugs. These inhalers come in several different forms but all require you to breathe in hard in order to ingest their dose. The need for a strong breath to suck in powder drugs mean that dry powder inhalers are not appropriate for small children who may struggle to breathe in hard enough to make these inhalers effective. Nebulizers create an aerosol vapor of asthma drugs. The drug is inhaled through a mouthpiece or face mask. No coordination is needed to use a nebulizer, the vapor is created and then you suck it in. They are no longer used very often, but when they are used it is usually in a hospital when a patient needs a large dose of asthma drugs.