The
majority of us do the same thing when using an inhaler.
We put it in our mouth, close it around the
inhaler and then give it a puff.
This is an incorrect use of the inhaler and can
be used only as a last resort if the proper way of using
it fails to bring relief or if you are using an inhaler
with a spacer.
When we do that, the amount of medication the
lungs receive is greatly reduce and the chances of the
asthma attack stopping diminishes as well.
The
correct way to use the inhaler is to shake it, take the
cap off, tip your head a little bit back, (so your air
passage way is open), and place the inhaler between 1 to
2 centimeters away from your mouth, then release the
medication by pressing the puffer while inhaling through
your mouth.
This method ensures that the medication is
getting into your lungs and will have maximum effect.
While doing this, take even breathes through your
mouth and wait from 30 seconds to a minute before
releasing the next puff.
Do this as many times as your doctor has
prescribed.
When
I first started using the inhalers the doctor didn’t
tell me how to use it correctly and I went about using
it incorrectly for about a year.
Then one day I saw a little girl using it the
correct way and when I asked my doctor he told me the
little girl was using it correctly.
Of course, I argued that if I did it the correct
way I would not get the amount of medication I needed to
breathe (which is not true). To solve the problem, the doctor prescribed a spacer.
A
spacer is an additional piece that goes on the
mouthpiece of your inhaler and can be placed on your
mouth when using the puffer.
What it does is that it shoots the medication
straight into your lungs with all the benefit of the
medication. You
need to wash your spacer and clean your puffer after
every use. The
spacer has worked very nicely for me.
Learn
how to use your puffer for maximum benefit and when in
doubt, ask your doctor and have him/her show you how to
use it correctly. If
it proves to be difficult for you, ask for a spacer. And
continue using it the same way you have been using it
all this time.
There
are new products in the market that come with the spacer
added, such as Maxair.
