Thursday, July 30, 2009

All about Nebulizers: Part 1

Millions of individuals have asthma and chronic lung disorders for which they require use of metered dose inhaler medications. In many cases, these medications are best delivered to the lung via use of a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a compressed air appliance that changes liquid asthma medicine into a fine mist that one can easily inhale. Nebulizers are ideal for children with asthma and for individuals who have difficultly using metered dose inhalers. There are many designs of nebulizers but they all function in a similar fashion.

Nebulizers help deliver the bronchodilator drugs deep down in to the lower part of lung where oxygenation takes place. Nebulizers also help individuals who are unable to take deep breaths because of chest pain, emphysema, or COPD.

With most nebulizers, one needs a source of compressed air/oxygen which when released causes liquid medicine to turn into a fine mist. The fine mist is then more easily inhaled by the individual.

In the past, nebulizers were large and only used in health care facilities. Today, nebulizers are small compact portable devices that can be used in the home. Nebulizers are also frequently used in emergency rooms to treat acute cases of asthma or severe cases of wheezing.

In the hospital setting, nebulizer therapy is administered by respiratory therapists or nurses. Today, nebulizers have been simplified and can be easily used at home.

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