If you suffer from asthma, searching for the right inhaler can feel like an arduous—albeit an important—task. An asthma inhaler delivers medication to your lungs and can help control symptoms of asthma during an attack or to prevent one from occurring. Asthma inhalers are certainly not a one-size-fits-all medication, and each person will have to learn what works best for them to gain relief. Here are our top choices for asthma inhalers.
Metered dose inhalers
Metered dose inhalers are boot-shaped inhalers that have a pressurized canister that is filled with the medication. Most metered dose inhalers distribute medicine when the person using them pushes down on the canister. Depending on the kind of inhaler that you have, some metered dose inhalers have an automatic counter, which helps you determine the number of doses that you’ve used. If there is no counter, you will have to keep track of the doses yourself or use a separate electronic dose counter to tell when you are running low on medication. This is, of course, crucial to know because you don’t want to run out when you are having an asthma attack.
Metered dose inhalers with a spacer
For children and some adults with asthma it can be difficult to take an entire dose of medication quickly, which makes a metered dose inhaler with a spacer necessary. A metered dose inhaler with a spacer allows the release of medication to be slower, which increases the amount that reaches your lungs. The spacer’s function is that it holds the medication in a valved holding chamber between the inhaler and your mouth, which helps regulate the flow of medicine.
Some inhalers have built-in spacers, but for those that do not, there are spacer attachments available.
Dry powder inhaler
A dry powder inhaler is different from a metered dose inhaler, which pushes medication into the lungs. A dry powder inhaler only delivers medication when you take a deep, fast breath in the inhaler. After the medication has been inhaled, the person using the inhaler will then hold their breath for 5–10 seconds.
Metered dose inhaler with a face mask
Metered dose inhalers with a face mask are typically for asthma patients who are young—infants and small children—and who can’t regulate their own medication yet. The mask fits over the nose and mouth to ensure that the medication inside of the inhaler reaches the lungs properly.
Nebulizer
A nebulizer inhaler will change medication from a liquid to a mist so that it is more easily breathed in. These are also typically used for asthma patients who are young or for those who cannot administer their own medication.
Have a question on inhalers or want to know the best asthma treatments for you or loved one? Schedule an appointment with the Internal Medicine Diagnostic Center in Magnolia, Texas to learn more. We know how important it is to receive the right medical advice and reassurance. Call 281-252-8600 to check on availability today!