What are "asthma inhalers"?

What are "asthma inhalers"?

William Berger (Allergist and Immunologist) gives expert video advice on: How is asthma treated?; How important is it to identify my asthma triggers?; What side effects should I expect from my asthma medication? and more...

Respiratory medicine - asthma inhalers - is very unique in that opposed to other treatments of other diseases, not only is the medication important, but the delivery of the medication is just as important. There are essentially three types of inhalers: One is what we refer to as a “metered-dose” inhaler. That's an inhaler where the medication is in a canister. You press down on the canister and a propellant that is either Freon or a non-Freon propellant pushes the medication out of the canister, through the plastic sleeve, and into your mouth and lungs. That requires a very coordinated effort to use properly. There's a second type of inhaler called a “dry powder” inhaler, and in that situation there's a dry powder reservoir or a little packet that you then break, and then breathe in the powder. That requires a type of inhalation that is very rapid and gets into your lungs. If you don't breathe it in rapidly enough it won't get all the way into the periphery of the lungs. The third inhalation device is what we call a “nebulizer”, where there's a nebulizer connected to a compressor, and the medicine is put into an aerosol form and the patient slowly breathes it in. That requires less coordination and very often we use this type of delivery system in infants and young children who can't coordinate the use of the metered-dose inhaler or the dry powder inhaler. What's most important when you use a nebulizer is that you use a proper-fitting mask or mouthpiece and that the patient has it tightly on their face. If not, if there's any leakage of the medication, the patient won't get it properly.So it's important when you get a prescription for any of these types of delivery devices that you have a doctor or nurse show you how to use it properly so you get the maximal benefit from this treatment.