How often should i use my inhaler?

Are you a proud owner of an inhaler? Does it make you feel like Darth Vader every time you take a puff? Well, fear not my asthmatic friends because we are here today to answer the million-dollar question – How often should I use my inhaler?

In this hilarious yet informative guide, we will dive into the depths of breathless anxiety and come out victorious. We will explore topics ranging from when to use your inhaler to tips and tricks for better breathing habits.

So sit back, grab your inhalers’ personnel, and prepare yourself for the adventure of lifetimes’

The Basics: What is An Inhaler?

To kick off our epic journey through inhaling medicine, let’s start at the very beginning. What exactly is an inhaler and how does it work?

An inhaler (or puffer) is a medical device that delivers medication directly into your lungs in aerosol form. It is typically used by people who have asthma or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

There are two types of inhalers:

  • Pressurized metered-dose inhalers (PMDIs)
  • Dry powder inhalers (DPIs)

Fun Fact: The first modern-day nebulizer was invented in 1931 by Dr. J.A.Bernoulli.

Now that we know what an inhaler is let’s move onto more pressing matters – how often should one be using it?

To Puff or Not To Puff: That Is The Question

The frequency of using your inhalers’ depends on several factors such as symptoms severity and medications prescribed by your doctor). So there’s no universal rule about how many times per day one must puff their wonder drug.

However, there are some general guidelines you can follow:

As-needed Use

This type of use is sometimes called rescue therapy, which means you only take your inhaler when you’re experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing.

Tip: You’ll want to carry your inhaler with you wherever and whenever it’s necessary because asthma attacks can happen at any time.

Maintenance Therapy

Some people may require long-term medication, in which case they would take their inhalers regularly even if feeling symptom-free.
The frequency depends on the specific medication prescribed by a doctor. Common long-term treatments include inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA).

You must be wondering how often “regularly” is; well, let’s find out!

Medication Frequency
ICSs Once or twice a day
LTRA Once per day

Note: The devices used for delivering different medications might vary from brand to brand; hence always follow the instruction provided along with them.

When To Use Your Inhaler

Now that we’ve discussed various types of inhaler therapies let’s figure out how many times an individual should inhale according to symptoms.

Fun Fact: Inhaling too much medicine isn’t healthy either – this over-usage leads to potential side-effects such as tremors, palpitations, headaches etcetera.

Below are some scenarios explaining when one should be using their puffer:

1. During An Asthma Attack

During an asthma attack taking a few huffs every five minutes till the persons feel better every hour mixed with calm breathing usually works for most people. After an hour almost everyone feels relief but still do not forget applying maintenance dose regularly after understanding severity. Continual usage more than six doses within four hours depicts severe adhesiveness, and one must contact their emergency service provider or medical center.

2. When Engaging In Physical Activity

Physical activity increases the breathing rate in individuals which can trigger symptoms such as wheezing and chest tightness. It is therefore recommended to take a few puffs before starting exercise to prevent an asthma attack from happening.

Tip: Do consult you5 doctor before increasing doses when exercising as well, they know what’s best for your health- so trust them!

3. During Seasonal Allergies

Allergies too lead to flared-up asthma due to increased pollen count iand other such allergens irritants present in the environment. Therefore it is advisable t inhale at least once daily during allergies seasons.

The Bottom Line: Inhaler Usage Depends on Symptoms

To sum up this comic ride of inhalers puffs – if you’re feeling suffocated,puff your meds; if you’re symptom-free stay away from it! But always seek guidance regarding frequency from your trusted doctor instead of self-diagnosing everything (else?).

At last, being asthma patient doesn’t mean hogging all over-the-counter drugs but having knowledge regarding impeccable usage frequencies of medications will ensure suitable treatments making life just like any non-sufferer (-fingers crossed).

Random Posts