Asthma Inhaler Essentials: Techniques for Effective Use

Asthma and COPD patients need to use inhalers to help them breath. Here are important techniques for proper inhaler use to ensure effective delivery of medications to the lungs.

Following are the types of inhalers and proper technique for each.

1-Metered Dose Inhalers

• Shake the inhaler for five seconds.

• Breath out completely through your mouth.

• Keep your tongue under the mouthpiece and seal your lips around it.

• Breath in slowly and deeply through your mouth while pressing the inhaler to release the medication.

• Hold your breath for as long as long as you comfortably can and then slowly breath out.

2- Dry Powder Inhalers

There are two types of dry powder inhalers. Multiple-dose inhalers, which indicate the number of doses remaining and single- dose inhalers, which require a capsule be inserted before use.

How to use:

• Remove the cap. For single use inhalers, load the capsule into the device.

• First, empty your lungs by breathing out slowly and completely without the inhaler.

• Place the mouthpiece of the inhaler between your front teeth and seal your lips around it, keeping your tongue out of the way.

• Breath in quickly and deeply through your mouth.

• Remove the inhaler from your mouth and hold your breath for as long as comfortable.

• Breath out slowly

3- Soft Mist Inhaler

• Keep the cap closed and turn the clear base in the direction of the arrows on the label until you hear a click (about half a turn).

• Open the cap fully until it snaps open.

• Breath out completely, then place your lips around the mouthpiece without covering the air vents.

• Point the inhaler toward the back of your throat.

• Press the button while taking a deep, slow breath through your mouth. Inhale as deeply as you can.

• Hold your breath for as long as you can, then slowly exhale.

Additional Inhaler Tips

• Rinse your mouth after using inhaled corticosteroids to prevent recurrent infection.

• Avoid blowing directly into the inhaler, especially with dry powder inhalers.

• Almost all inhalers require you to take a deep breath and to hold your breath for 5-10 seconds (or as long as comfortably possible).

By following these inhaler techniques and consulting your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns, you can get the most out of your inhaler therapy.