More and more often, doctors for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract recommend inhalation using special devices - inhalers. The advantages of this type of treatment are called by doctors:
- reduction of the time of action of drugs, since the drug directly go to the area requiring treatment;
- lack of additional load on the gastrointestinal tract, which exists with oral administration of drugs;
- reduction in the dosage of the drug, since the active substance acts purposefully to the focus of the disease;
- reduction of financial costs for treatment, due to a decrease in the amount of the drug used.
The doctor recommended using a household inhaler, you appreciated the benefits of this type of treatment and decided to purchase a device. But in a specialized store (pharmacy) their choice is quite large. How to decide which device is needed? To do this, you need to learn about their features and types, evaluate the parameters, as well as get acquainted with the recommendations for the right choice.
Types and features of household inhalers
Inhalers are divided according to the principle of work into four types:
Steam (heat-wet). These devices are used to prevent the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Warm household inhalers generate steam by heating the drug to the required temperature. The device is predominantly seasoned with decoctions of herbs and essential oils. The size of the sprayed particles is not less than 10 microns. The undoubted advantage of the acquisition of this device is its low price. Steam inhaler can not be used at elevated body temperature (above 37.5 °), tuberculosis and some cardiovascular diseases. Not all medicines can be exposed to high temperature.- Compressor TOThe compressor creates a powerful stream of air that breaks the medicine into tiny particles and creates an aerosol cloud. Such a nebulizer can be filled with any solution intended for inhalation. A significant minus is the high noise level during operation.
Ultrasonic LThe drug is converted to aerosol by ultrasound. Nebulizers of this type are compact and almost silent, but they can not be used to spray antibiotics, hormones and some other drugs. This is due to the fact that due to ultrasonic exposure, the active substance of the drug is destroyed.- Electronic mesh (mes nebulizeRs membrane). The treatment solution breaks into liquid dust, passing through a vibrating plate with many holes. These devices are compact, silent, can operate on battery power, are suitable for spraying all medicinal solutions, but they are very expensive and require constant cleaning of parts.
Steam (heat-wet). These devices are used to prevent the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Warm household inhalers generate steam by heating the drug to the required temperature. The device is predominantly seasoned with decoctions of herbs and essential oils. The size of the sprayed particles is not less than 10 microns. The undoubted advantage of the acquisition of this device is its low price. Steam inhaler can not be used at elevated body temperature (above 37.5 °), tuberculosis and some cardiovascular diseases. Not all medicines can be exposed to high temperature.
Ultrasonic LThe drug is converted to aerosol by ultrasound. Nebulizers of this type are compact and almost silent, but they can not be used to spray antibiotics, hormones and some other drugs. This is due to the fact that due to ultrasonic exposure, the active substance of the drug is destroyed.Often, all these devices are united in one word "nebulizer". This is not true, because steam inhalers are not of this type, since a nebulizer is an apparatus that processes liquid into an aerosol.
Attention! Not all medicines can be used equally well in different inhalers. If the doctor said that a nebulizer is required for the procedure, then do not use a steam inhaler! If it was pointed out that the operation of the ultrasound apparatus is inadmissible, then this should not be done.
Options to consider when choosing an inhaler
In order to make it easier to choose a household inhaler, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic parameters of different devices.
What size are the sprayed particles?
The effectiveness of the treatment of diseases depends on the size of the sprayed particles. The smaller the particle size, the greater the range of their penetration. If there are particles of the drug at the exit with a diameter of 8-10 microns (microns), then inhalation will be appropriate for treating the oral cavity (prevention and treatment of tonsillitis, pharyngitis and others). A similar result is typical for steam inhalers.
Aerosol dust particles 5-8 microns in size settle in the nasopharynx. Devices that give a similar result, it is recommended to purchase for the treatment of diseases of the inner surface of the larynx and nasopharynx, including tonsillitis and rhinitis.
Nebulizers spraying a solution with a particle size of 3 to 5 microns are used to relieve swelling and inflammation in the trachea and bronchi.
Particles of 1-3 microns reach the lower respiratory tract, which means they are suitable for the treatment of inflammatory processes in the lungs.
The smallest particles of the solution (0.5 - 2 microns) penetrate the alveoli - distant sections of the respiratory tract.
Manufacturers of household inhalers always indicate the size of the particles produced by the device. When choosing a device, you must remember that you will use it more than once, accordingly select the average particle size indicators.
Important! To achieve the greatest therapeutic effect, it is worth choosing an inhaler with a particle size range from 2 to 8 microns. Such nebulizers are universal in use.
What type of drug delivery is used in the device?
The aerosol supply in a household inhaler is divided into 3 types: continuous, manually adjustable and automatically adjusted. Continuous supply of the drug is the most uneconomical, since the drug is sprayed all the time, regardless of whether it is inhaled or not.
With manual adjustment, the solution enters the sprayer when a special button is pressed.
Least of all medicine is consumed if the nebulizer provides automatic fluid supply. The price of such inhalers is quite high.
Drug Capacity
The volume of the tank for the treatment solution depends on the size of the apparatus, the method of formation of the aerosol cloud and the principle of supply of the drug. In steam inhalers, as well as compressor nebulizers with a continuous supply of medicine containers, they can have a volume of 150 ml. This is due to the fact that in such devices the consumption of medication for one inhalation is quite large. In ultrasonic nebulizers, the tank volume does not exceed 70 ml, and in membrane - 15 ml.
Attention! Never exceed the permissible time for one cycle of the device. Take breaks between inhalations as directed by the manufacturer, even if there is a lot of medicine left in the tank.
Battery Operated
Some models of household inhalers (mainly ultrasonic and mesh) can operate on battery power. Due to this feature, if necessary, the device can be used outdoors (travel, leisure outside the city, etc.)
Volume during operation
Inhalers differ in the level of noise emitted. The loudest are compressor nebulizers.
In the technical documentation of any device, manufacturers indicate the noise level. For compressor and ultrasonic inhalers, a characteristic of 45 dB is characteristic, for steam it reaches 30 dB, and for mesh nebulizers it does not exceed 20 dB.
Tips for choosing an inhaler
Choosing a household inhaler, you need to decide who, how often and for what purpose (treatment / prevention) will use it.
Inhaler for the whole family
The device, intended for the whole family, should have a wide range of therapeutic effects so that it can be used for the prevention and treatment of both the upper and lower respiratory tract. Also, a universal inhaler should not have restrictions on the use of drugs. Compressor nebulizers best match these characteristics. The package should include various nozzles for both children and adults.
Inhaler for a child
In the medical equipment market, inhalers for children are represented by various bright models. Often they are made in the form of funny toys. If you purchase the device only for use by a child, pay attention to the volume of its operation. Too noisy models can scare the baby. Ideally, a children's inhaler should be equipped with an automatic medicine delivery system. It is important to choose a model producing aerosol particles with a diameter of 2 to 8 microns, since such devices have a wide spectrum of action.
Inhaler for allergy sufferers and people with poor health
Allergy sufferers for inhalation with hormonal drugs are contraindicated in the home use of steam and ultrasound devices, since the active substance is destroyed by exposure to high temperature and ultrasound. It is recommended that people with poor health always have an inhaler on hand (at home, on a trip, in a summer house, etc.). Therefore, the ideal option would be to purchase a compact membrane nebulizer capable of running on battery power.
Prevention inhaler
For the prevention of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, it is recommended to carry out inhalation with the help of steam and compressor devices. In the first case, heated air improves blood circulation in the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, and essential oils and herbal decoctions provide the necessary therapeutic effect. The use of compressor nebulizers allows the use of solutions designed not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of diseases.
Reference! Before purchasing an inhaler, consult a doctor for advice. The doctor will tell you by what criteria you need to choose the device specifically for you and your family.
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