If your child suffers from asthma, COPD, allergies, chronic bronchitis, and more, then they may have a nebulizer or an inhaler to help treat their symptoms. However, when they’re away from their nebulizer and an asthma attack occurs, an inhaler spacer can make a major difference for properly getting medication to dissipate into the lungs quickly.
Why You Need An Inhaler Spacer
First, What Does An Inhaler Do?
Inhalers are small medical devices that can easily be taken with people in order to prevent or relieve symptoms with breathing difficulties such as asthma attacks, wheezing, and coughing. They are often referred to as puffers because they release a puff of medicine into your lungs. Inhaler medications relieve symptoms by widening your airways and relaxing your muscles, allowing you to recover from an attack and breathe normally. A bronchodilator is another type of medicine that can be administered by inhalers to clear mucus out of the airways.
Some people use their inhalers before activities such as working out or participating in sports, while others wait until they experience breathing difficulties.
How Does An Inhaler Spacer Help?
An inhaler spacer is a small device that is added to the end of an inhaler to assist with properly inhaling the medication. They are tubes that hold the medicine for you to inhale if inhalers seem to puff too quickly.
This can be helpful during asthma attacks or when you’re rapidly breathing to ensure that your medicine quickly enters the lungs. Often times people can miss their airway and coat the roof of their mouth or throat with their medication instead. Spacers also help children use their inhalers more easily.
How To Use An Inhaler Spacer:
- Attach the spacer to the mouthpiece of your inhaler
- Shake your inhaler
- Insert one puff of medicine into the spacer
- Place your mouth on the end of the inhaler
- Inhale the medication with one full, deep breath and hold it for about five seconds or try tidal breathing by breathing in and our normally for four breaths
- Slowly exhale and wait about a minute if you need a second puff
You’ll need to clean your spacer about once a week or after you recover from a cold or respiratory infection. To clean your spacer:
- Remove it from your inhaler
- Place it in warm soapy water to soak for about 15 minutes
- Rinse it thoroughly
- Allow it to completely dry
What About A Nebulizer?
A nebulizer is a compact device that uses compressed air and aerosol medicine to provide a way for children to easily inhale their medication. Generally, they’ll wear their mask and mouthpiece for about 15 minutes.
They are a great inhaler alternative for children that are too small or afraid to use inhalers. Many nebulizer machines are lightweight with child-friendly designs that can be powered by batteries or in the car, making them portable. However, inhalers are much easier to carry around.
If you or your child needs an inhaler, nebulizer, or spacer, then qualify through insurance! Save money as your items arrive directly to your front door on a regular basis and most importantly, breathe easy now!
