Asthma Inhalers are very important for patients suffering from asthma. These inhalers will help them overcome life and death situations. Since lives hang on the balance, patients suffering from asthma have to carry asthma inhalers with them wherever they go. 

These inhalers contain two types of medications. First is the long-acting steroids, with this, there is a reduction in airway swelling and inflammation. Airway swelling and inflammation is the reason why the body cannot get enough air. Second is the bronchodilator while the steroid is slow acting, the bronchodilator is quick to give patients relief from the symptoms of asthma.

Asthma inhalers have changed shapes and designs throughout the years. Inhalers having chlorofluorocarbons are phased out due to the depletion of the ozone layer. Manufacturers immediately began looking for a substitute that won’t hurt the environment. They came up with hydrofluoroalkane or HFA. Asthma inhalers that use this are not only earth friendly but it is much easier to use since medication is released slowly. 

These inhalers are metered dose and patients can take the medicine through their mouths. But during an attack, these patients sometimes fail to get the proper dosages sometimes because of the difficulty in coordinating between inhaling and medicine release. Some manufacturers use dry powder devices. With this type of asthma inhaler, patients have to make a quick breath that will draw the medicine into the lungs. When users push a level, the dry medicine pops out.

This type of inhaler is not suited for children and senior citizens because patients need to make forceful breaths.  For children and senior citizens, inhalers using propellants will suit them much better. They can also use nebulizers since it allows patients to breathe in medicated air. However, nebulizers cannot be carried around unlike asthma inhalers. It is not mobile but it can be as effective.

Because these inhalers contain the needed medicine to help patients deal with asthma attacks, patients need to get the correct dosage of medicine from inhalers. Sadly, around 40% of the people who use inhalers do not know how to properly use it. This is because patients need to know whether their inhalers need quick breathes or slow breaths. It can cause confusion to people and not knowing how to properly take in the medicine could be disastrous. Sometimes, using inhalers can be uncomfortable. Patients need to sit down with their doctors and learn how to properly use these devices.