Question

Describe How nebulizer and inhaler assist with medication management for asthma?

Answer 1

ASTHMA

Asthma is a long term illness of lungs, in which airway become inflammed, narrowed,swelled .There will be  production of extra mucous.The main features are breathing difficulty, chest pain, productive cough and wheezing.

USE OF NEBULIZER IN ASTHMA MANAGEMENT

Nebulizer is a small machine, in which the presuraised air passes through the tubings and turns the liquid medicine into a mist. Asthma patients may breathe this fine mist with face mask or mouth piece. During asthma attack as the airways are narrowed the patient may not be able to take deep breath.Mist is formed in nebulization which is more easier to inhale in asthma patients. This helps to smoothen the mucous.

The common medications used in nebulizer for asthma are albuterol and levalbuterol, ipratropium. Sterile water also can be used in nebulizer which produces mist and may help to reduces wheezing and breathing difficulty in asthma patients.

USE OF INHALER IN ASTHMA MANAGEMENT

Inhalers are the portable ,hand held devices which deliver medication to the lungs. These inhalers contain bronchodialators (quick relief inhaler)and corticosteroids(long term control medications).These medications helps to treat the inflammation of airway and thereby opening up of the swollened airway which makes the relief from asthma symptoms.

Types of asthma inhalers

1. Reliever inhaler

These are used to relieve the sympatoms of asthma. It contains the bronchodialors which helps to relaxes the muscles in the airways by widening the airways.The main medicines used in reliever inhaler are salbutamol and terbutaline.

2. Preventer inhaler

These inhalers are used eveyday inorder to prevent the symptoms of asthma from developing.These inhalers usually contains corticosteroids.The steroids helps to reduce the inflammation and keep the airway widen.It will not give immediate effect like reliever inhaler, which usually takes 7-14 days to get the result.The common medicines used in preventer inhalers are beclometasone, budesonide, fluticasone.

3. Long acting broncho dialator inhaler

These are used if the symptoms are not completely relieved by steroid inhalers.These helps to relax the airway muscles .The medications used are salmetrol and formetrol.

Inhaler devices

1. Pressurised metered dose inhalers(MDI)

These are small and quick to use inhalers. It contains pressuraised gas that propels the medicine with each puff.Each dose is released by pressing the top of the inhaler.

2. Breathe activated inhalers

Breathe activated inhalers are manly MDI and dry powder inhalers.Breathe activated MDIs  are like standard MDI.  It doesnot require to press the top of the inhaler.In the dry powder inhaler contains powdered form of medicines.Instead of pressing the top of inhaler, in this type need to inhale through mouth piece.

3. Nebulizers

Nebulizer is a small machine, in which the presuraised air passes through the tubings and turns the liquid medicine into a mist . Asthma patients may breathe this fine mist with face mask or mouth piece.